Publisher's Synopsis
This series provides critical studies of key political figures in world history since 1500. The books are not biographies, though inevitably they contain much biographical material; rather, they are interpretive essays, analyzing the major features of the career within the context of its own time.;A great deal has been written about Churchill - much of it by Churchill himself - yet he is still seen as a distant figure to many in the late 20th century. The triumphs and tragedies of Churchill's career as a statesman are inseparable from those of the nation as a whole, spanning the climax and disintegration of the British Empire. Keith Robbins's review of his career is ultimately a study in failure, yet it shows this awkward genius, in defeat as well as victory, to have been surly the symbol and mirror for his age.;This book is short and is a book which students can easily absorb and enjoy, though it is written at a serious scholarly level. It seeks to bring Churchill back into focus for a modern readership and provide a picture of the political landscapes through which he moved.;It is aimed at upper sixth formers, undergraduates, general readership and should be useful as supplementary reading for all courses covering 20th century history.