Evan, I am just finishing Max Hastings new book on Churchill which I find very much up to his normal high standards of research, writing quality and excellence with different points of view re Churchill as a War Leader. His portrait of Churchill is very balanced, his weaknesses are laid bare and his great strengths are fully recognized.
Hastings spends a lot time via wartime diarists, military and civilian writing about their points of view at the time. Clearly, the British public had a huge change of heart after the first real success of the British army in the war at El Alamein in Oct./Nov. of 1942 and the subsequent Torch invasion of north Africa. Up to that time it had become after the glow of the "Finest Hour" had worn off and the British suffered defeat after defeat in 1941 and 1942 a sometimes open question as to how long Churchill could hang on as PM without a military victory. After Alamein, his leadership was unquestioned until near the end of the war. Again, highly recommend Hastings new book. On your second question, there are many good books on this which I am anxious to see what other more knowledgeable members of this chat site will recommend. I would recommend Lynne Olson's "Troublesome Young Men" about Churchill's rise to power in the late 30s and the men around him who supported him. Reads like a novel! Hope this helps. Glenn ----- Original Message ----- From: EvanQ To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, August 02, 2010 10:52 PM Subject: [ChurchillChat] When did the tide turn? When did people in England feel that World War II had turned in the Allies' favor? I'm reading the Official Biography, and the Documents and yes, all the footnotes. What I wonder about is the people who had survived the Great War and died during WWII. Some of them would have died with England hanging on by a thread, and others with the feeling that England would eventually triumph again. What date/year/battle would that have been? Also, I've been struck by the number of people who were very anti-Winston in the post World War I years, but who served in his Government during WWII. Can anyone point me to a book or article discussing this? Thanks, Evan -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "ChurchillChat" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/churchillchat?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "ChurchillChat" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/churchillchat?hl=en.
