Monday, June 20, 2011

Long Delayed BookSneeze Review

A Review of

Winston Churchill by John Perry

(Thomas Nelson: Nashville, TN, 2010)

This biography is an introduction to the life of Winston Churchill, painting it in broad, but not deep, strokes. The book takes us from Churchill’s sad childhood to the apex of his career as England’s Prime Minister during World War II and to his decline and death decades later. It also treats of lesser known episodes when Churchill served as foreign war correspondent in Cuba, India, and the Sudan.

Since the book is part of the “Christian Encounters” series, the author seems to have set out to find Christian influences in Churchill’s life. Finding a dearth of these and little evidence that his subject seriously believed or practiced Christianity, he is forced to conclude that Churchill’s Christian influences were mainly passive and “cultural,” part of the fabric of life in the times in which he lived. I find this the major flaw of the book.

What puzzles, even after reading this biography, is how the mostly neglected child of wealthy, leisured aristocrats became an oratorical genius and the political mouthpiece of England. It is difficult not to believe, as he did, that it was his destiny.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”