Sir Winston S. Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953 "for his mastery of historical and biographical description as well as for brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values."
Over a 64-year span, Churchill published over 40 books, many multi-volume definitive accounts of historical events to which he was a witness and participant. All are beautifully written and as accessible and relevant today as when first published.
During his fifty-year political career, Churchill served twice as Prime Minister in addition to other prominent positions—including President of the Board of Trade, First Lord of the Admiralty, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Home Secretary. In the 1930s, Churchill was one of the first to recognize the danger of the rising Nazi power in Germany and to campaign for rearmament in Britain. His leadership and inspired broadcasts and speeches during World War II helped strengthen British resistance to Adolf Hitler—and played an important part in the Allies’ eventual triumph.
One of the most inspiring wartime leaders of modern history, Churchill was also an orator, a historian, a journalist, and an artist. All of these aspects of Churchill are fully represented in this collection of his works.
This collection of speeches cover the period from 1951 to 1952, when Churchill once again stepped into the role of Prime Minister after his defeat in the General Election of 1945. During his first premiership, Churchill had been a renowned wartime leader. In his second, Churchill’s clear priority was the preservation of peace.
These speeches demonstrate a commitment to this path. Churchill tried heroically to negotiate a settlement with Russia during this time, but he was ultimately unable to prevent the conditions that would later give rise to the Cold War. He also held deep regrets over Britain’s failure to prevent violence and death in India during the transition of power and Britain’s withdrawal in the region. These speeches demonstrate perhaps a more introspective Churchill, but one as fiery, brilliant, and human as he was during his wartime years.
The fifth in Winston Churchill's six-volume account of World War II picks up at the dawn of a more optimistic time for the Allied forces. After considerable struggle, the balance has finally shifted toward the Allies--and in Closing the Ring, Winston Churchill documents the drive toward victory. With the visionary perspective of one who has both documented and shaped history, Churchill tells us of the destruction of the once-formidable armies of the Third Reich, the bombings of Berlin, and the panic that descended among Hitler's inner circle. Churchill's writing is masterful and highly readable--providing a compelling narrative account of the Allies' end game. But victory was bittersweet for Churchill, who saw the greatness of the British Empire fading even as the war was won. This definitive work provides an intimate look at both this volatile period in history and in Churchill himself--both as a wartime leader and as an individual.
With the entry of US forces into the conflict, the fortunes of war are turning in favor of the Allies. This period saw President Roosevelt's proposal of the "unconditional surrender" policy; the defeat of Mussolini and Rommel; Russia's dominance over Axis forces at Stalingrad; and a powerful new bombing campaign bringing the air conflict to the heart of Germany.During this period, Winston Churchill began to perceive victory as a real possibility-even a likely one. In this, the fourth volume of Churchill's famous wartime speeches, the tone is decidedly more optimistic-and his words still have the power to inspire.
