The Splendid and the Vile

Erik Larson

This is a splendid 2020 book that focused on Churchill ‘s first year as Prime Minister, 10 May 1940 to 10 May 1941.

It covers the fall of France and the Battle of Britain. The emphasis is on the day-to- day life of Churchill, his family members and support staff like John Colville, Lord Beaverbrook and Frederick Lindemann as Britain fought Hitler alone.

This is thus not a book on the life of Churchill, the war front, or the political events except for broad strokes to provide context. The story flows easily, and suspense is well kept.

Readers looking for the human side of Churchill will enjoy this book. Larson’s previous book Dead Wake is also highly recommended if you enjoy this book.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *