Churchill: Walking with Destiny by {author}: summary and why it matters

What it argues

Roberts traces Churchill from his aristocratic childhood and army service in India, the Sudan and South Africa through his early political career, the Gallipoli disaster, the wilderness years of the 1930s, when he warned of Hitler, and his wartime premiership from 1940. He then covers the postwar defeat and his return to office in 1951.

The book draws on material that earlier biographers had not seen, including the diaries of King George VI and some of Churchill's own records, and gives close attention to his strategic decisions and to his private life. Roberts defends Churchill against charges, such as those of imperial attitudes and disastrous strategic judgments, while acknowledging his errors, including Gallipoli and positions on India.

The author is a Conservative-leaning British historian who admires his subject, which shapes the tone.

Why it matters

Churchill remains a symbol of resolve against tyranny, and the book supports that picture with a large body of detail. Readers should consult other biographies, including Roy Jenkins's, for a differing emphasis.

About the author

Andrew Roberts (born 1963) is a British historian who has written on Napoleon, Lord Salisbury and the Second World War, including The Storm of War. He was awarded a place in the House of Lords in 2022. He wrote Churchill after gaining access to documents that had not been available before, including the diaries of King George VI.

Who should read it

Readers of twentieth-century history and leadership.