Being there . . . . to join with someone else, hopefully a good friend or a loved inseparablecompanion, who has not only noticed Rt. Hon. (Sir) Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874-1965), but also has found the “self”, himself or herself, inundated with curiosity about hischaracter. In deadly seriousness, more than casual, cool unconcern and relaxed indifference,most Americans and their Brit counterparts set out the facts observed in moments of privacy,then moments of hard decision. No one was closer to Winnie than his closest friend, militarymentor, personal critic, and unacknowledged “brother” than Field Marshal ViscountAlanbrooke. No better accurate, gentle, passionate account of Winston “true colors” exists thanhis War Diaries – – see Arthur Bryant’s, “The Turn of The Tide” (1956, the Reprint SocietyLondon.) He wrote in part, “I wonder whether any historian of the future will ever be able topaint Winston in his true colors. It is a wonderful character, the most marvelous qualities andsuperhuman genius mixed with an astonishing lack of vision at times, and an impetuositywhich, if not guided, must inevitably brings him into trouble again and again.“Perhaps the most remarkable failing of his is that he can never see a whole strategicalproblem at once. His gaze always settles on some definite part of the canvas and the rest of thepicture is lost. It is difficult to make him realize the influence of one theatre against another.The general handling of German reserves in Europe was never fully grasped by him. This failingis accentuated by the fact that often he does not want to see the whole picture, especially if thewider vision should in any way interfere with the operation he may have temporarily set hisheart on.“He is quite the most difficult man to work with that I have ever struck, but I would not havemissed the chance of working with him for anything on earth”.Warts and all, eh, Alanbrooke? Why not? Thus, we better understand the psychologicalhealth of this genius, a man of iron, perfectly sure of himself and supremely competent who, itcan be argued metaphorically, single-handily saved Western Civilization. For this wanna-bereviewer, one promise in his remaining lifetime will definitely be kept: when he arrives inHeaven, after visits with his immediate family, then ancient Italian ancestors, he willimmediately seek out Saint Junipero Serra, architect Frank Lloyd Wright, good-friends GabbyHayes and John Ford, and Winston Churchill, all five men of the highest grade of the world’shumanity.LIFE MAGAZINE IN A POST-WW II FEATURE, “A PORTRAIT OF WINSTON CHURCHILL” BY HAROLDNICOLSON, HEADLINED (paraphrased), “ENGLAND AT WAR FOUND HIM INDISPENSABLE, BUTENGLAND AT PEACE THOUGHT HIM TOO IMPETUOUS”. WINNIE WAS FIRED (lost the election toremain Prime Minister). FAIR? PEN & SWORD MILITARY BOOKS GLEEFULLY ANSWERED BYPUBLISHING AND PRESENTING A STUNNING NEW BRITISH EPITOME-COMPENDIUM – – ITSARRIVAL HERE IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS GIFT SALES. DISTRIBUTED IN AMERICA BY CASEMATEPUBLISHERS (who else?), THE “TRUE COLORS” OF THE GENIUS ARE NOW EASIERTOCOMPREHEND . . .
Reviewed and highly, highly recommended by Don DeNevi
“A CHURCHILL TREASURY – Sir Winston’s Public Service Through Memorabilia”, by Brian E.Krapf, Foreword by Randolph Churchill. Pen & Sword MILITARY, Yorkshire-Philadelphia: 2023,226 pages, 7 1/4” x 10”, hardcover, extensive use of period memorabilia, several hundredphotos mostly in color, $49.95. Visit, www.pen-and-sword.co.uk and E-mail: USpen-and-sword@casematepublishers.com.Without question, if your beloved is a World War II buff, enthusiast, or aficionado, he MUSThave this eye-witness text to intellectually explore this unfathomable man, especially when heserved as not only the Prime Minister of Britain during the dangerous war years, but also asunacknowledged leader of the English-speaking peoples of the world. “A CHURCHILLTREASURY” is truly a gift because of its unique approach to describing and documenting thecareer and public service of the immensely popular and loved man. Buffs especially willappreciate the insight into the various public offices Winnie held. Brian Krapf is to becommended, nay, highly praised for designing a book that will appeal to readers of all ages andbackgrounds. As the book jacket’s back cover puts it, “Brian has crafted a Wonder Cabinet full
of Churchill treasures.”
