The Last Titans: Churchill and de Gaulle

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What to expect

Bloomsbury presents The Last Titans: Churchill and de Gaulle by Richard Vinen, read by Charles Armstrong.

'Deeply researched yet highly readable, with fresh and often provocative insights' DAVID REYNOLDS
'A vivid and shrewd reckoning ... setting its assessment in the perspective of today's troubled world' PETER CLARKE

A compelling dual biography of Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle that shines new light on two of the greatest figures of the twentieth century.

Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle were thrown together by war. They incarnated the resistance of Britain and France to the existential threat from Nazi Germany, and their ultimate victory over Hitler has ensured their achievements will never be forgotten. But, as The Last Titans: Churchill and de Gaulle shows, that is only a part of a complex story. Both men influenced their countries, and the world around them, long after the war was won.

There was a paradox in the parallel and intertwined lives of these extraordinary men. De Gaulle – tall, gauche and incorruptible – exhibited qualities often associated with the English. Churchill – short, charming, witty and a bon vivant – resembled the quintessential politician of the French Third Republic. Their working relationship was rarely smooth, but they appreciated each other’s stature: de Gaulle said Churchill was ‘the great artist of a great history’, while Churchill recognised de Gaulle as ‘l’homme du destin’.

Wolfson Prize-winning historian Richard Vinen explores what made these men exceptional and how profoundly they were influenced by their national cultures. Beyond personal intrigue, the book makes a wider point that Britain and France are both haunted by perceptions of past greatness. Vinen retraces the paths of two leaders who once helmed superpowers but lived to see their nations weakened by two world wars and the loss of empires.

Written with extraordinary narrative verve, The Last Titans: Churchill and de Gaulle offers a fresh exploration into the lives of de Gaulle and Churchill. By bringing their two stories into one, each man is seen afresh and we gain new insights into their achievements and their legacy today.

Critics Review

Deeply researched yet highly readable, with fresh and often provocative insights
David Reynolds, author of MIRRORS OF GREATNESS: CHURCHILL AND THE LEADERS WHO SHAPED HIM
Offers shrewd and sometimes original insights on both men ... Makes a thoughtful addition to the vast literature about both his subjects
Sunday Times
A lively and engaging account of two giants of twentieth century politics. By bringing these two extraordinary lives together, Vinen provides fresh insights into the characters and attitudes of Churchill and de Gaulle, successfully conveying their charisma, eccentricity and historical significance
David Gauke, former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Highly readable ... [Vinen] draws the two men with a sure touch, their personal interactions a mix of mutual suspicion and admiration
Observer
Do we really need another book on either Churchill or de Gaulle? Yes indeed - when it is as compelling as The Last Titans. Here is a vivid and shrewd reckoning, backed by Richard Vinen's mastery of the historical sources, and now setting its assessment in the perspective of today's troubled world
Peter Clarke, author of HOPE AND GLORY: BRITAIN 1900-2000
An enthralling, penetrating portrait of two fascinating figures – and their countries – in times of war and peace
Jonathan Fenby, author of THE GENERAL: CHARLES DE GAULLE AND THE FRANCE HE SAVED
Churchill and de Gaulle were the towering figures of Britain and France during the Second World War, but they had complicated attitudes towards their own countries, just as those countries were deeply ambivalent about them. In this outstanding dual biography, Richard Vinen employs all his characteristic insight and wit in a gripping examination of the lives of these extraordinary men
Alan Allport, author of BRITAIN AT BAY: THE EPIC STORY OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR: 1938-1941
Vinen skilfully teases out the similarities as well as the differences between his subjects ... This neat juxtaposition is a good example of Vinen's analytical technique, which is fortified with extensive original research ... He provides what is most needed: insight
Literary Review
Richard Vinen’s intriguing and deeply researched biography of the leaders credited with snatching victory from defeat during the second world war is well-timed
Financial Times
A joint biography heightens each man's characteristics ... Vinen gives a stimulating account; and the comparison isn't always to Churchill's advantage
London Standard
Richard Vinen has had the excellent idea of writing a parallel biography of [Churchill and de Gaulle]…As a historian of both France and Britain, Vinen is well suited to this task. His lively book has a keen eye for quirky facts that have escaped others
Times Literary Supplement
What a fabulous book this is! Erudite and lucidly written, it’s a pleasure to read from start to finish… Vinen is particularly astute when it comes to illustrating the men’s differences… [His] book is full of perceptive observations and telling anecdotes that were new to this reader… This is a very fine and thoughtful study that provides valuable insight right up until the final page
History of War

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