Synopses & Reviews
From Londons inimitable mayor, Boris Johnson, the story of how Churchills eccentric genius shaped not only his world but our own.
On the fiftieth anniversary of Churchills death, Boris Johnson celebrates the singular brilliance of one of the most important leaders of the twentieth century. Taking on the myths and misconceptions along with the outsized reality, he portrayswith characteristic wit and passiona man of contagious bravery, breathtaking eloquence, matchless strategizing, and deep humanity.
Fearless on the battlefield, Churchill had to be ordered by the king to stay out of action on D-Day; he pioneered aerial bombing and few could match his experience in organizing violence on a colossal scale, yet he hated war and scorned politicians who had not experienced its horrors. He was the most famous journalist of his time and perhaps the greatest orator of all time, despite a lisp and chronic depression he kept at bay by painting. His maneuvering positioned America for entry into World War II, even as it ushered in Englands post-war decline. His openmindedness made him a trailblazer in health care, education, and social welfare, though he remained incorrigibly politically incorrect. Most of all, he was a rebuttal to the idea that history is the story of vast and impersonal forces; he is proof that one personintrepid, ingenious, determinedcan make all the difference.
Review
Praise for The Churchill Factor:
“Riveting. It would be a fascinating read [even] without the Johnson Factor - [but] Boris is a superb, accessible writer, with an easy, good-humoured touch. … The result is entertaining, informative and teasing.” —The Independent
“While there are many accounts of Winston Churchill and his political savvy, one would be remiss to ignore this sprightly written volume…Johnsons history of Churchill is well crafted, amply researched, and a pleasure to read.” —Library Journal
"Reading about Churchill is always a delight, and Johnson is an accomplished, accessible writer." —Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Johnsons Life of London
“A sparkling blend of history, biography, and geography . . . Johnsons exuberant paean makes a persuasive case that genius breeds genius.” —The New York Times Book Review
“Boris Johnson is Britains most popular politician. He is also its wittiest—and most erudite. . . . Not since Winston Churchill has a future prime minister of Britain written so well.” —Michael Wolff, Vanity Fair
Review
“A sparkling blend of history, biography, and geography…Johnson’s exuberant paean makes a persuasive case that genius breeds genius.” –
The New York Times Book Review “Flush with anecdotes on everyone from Queen Boudica to Keith Richards…by another unique London personality, the tow-headed, bicycle-riding Mayor Boris Johnson.” - Vogue
“[A] chummy, chatty history...[Boris] has a flair for describing personalities.” –Smithsonian
“[Johnson’s] knowledge of London is wide and deep, and he dispenses that history with intelligence and affection.” – The Chicago Tribune
“With the wit and wisdom for which he is famous, Boris Johnson tells the story of the vibrant city he fell in love with long before he grew up to run it.” – Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
“Boris Johnson is Britain's most popular politician. He is also its wittiest—and most erudite. In this book he turns his love for London and his stint as its mayor into an edifying and entertaining romp. There is no voice on the international political stage, and few within the pages of any book, as eclectic, learned, hilarious, and wonderful as his. Not since Winston Churchill has a future Prime Minister of Britain written so well.” – Michael Wolff, Vanity Fair
“Engaging ... a highly entertaining work of popular history.” – Publishers Weekly
“A lively thematic guide…the author shows that there is much more to London than Big Ben, London Bridge and William Shakespeare.” – Kirkus
“An entertainingly irreverent take on a powerhouse city.” – Library Journal
Review
UK Praise for
Johnson's Life of London “[Johnson] exudes excitement and wonder about the city he grew up in and which he now leads. He loves London in all its frantic, grubby, creative glory, and wants to make us feel that way too. … Revealing anecdotes go far beyond familiar guidebook tales [and] Johnson’s unerring eye for detail catches your attention but also moves his story on.” --The Daily Mail
“Here’s Boris, pedaling madly through the history of the capital. …. Through portraits of its famous residents … Johnson gives us his very own London, and we can’t but be glad that he did.” –The Times
“The stories of both the subjects and the city are brilliantly told [and show] an eye for detail that would do Savile Row proud. … Resist[s] easy caricature to paint complex pictures of flawed humans. –The Spectator
Review
Praise for The Churchill Factor: and#160;
and#8220;[The Churchill Factor] isnand#8217;t another potted biographyand#8230; [Johnson] clearly admires his subject, and his book has a boyish, innocent quality that is also an essential part of Mr. Johnsonand#8217;s political appeal.and#8221; and#8212;The Wall Street Journal
"Buoyant, quick-witted and vastly entertaining" and#8212;The Economist
"A lively, and pertinent, introduction and#8230; Johnson has painted his portrait of Churchill with light, learning, and good sense, a wise aggregation of present and past.and#8221;and#160; and#8212;The Weekly Standard
and#160;
"Fascinating...[Johnson's] interpretation of [Churchill] is interesting on every page." and#8212;Freakanomics
and#160;
"A bravura performance...Johnson has not only celebrated Churchill in this book: he has emulated him with comparable panache." and#8212;The Financial Times
and#160;
and#8220;A full-throated celebration of human greatness and perhaps the best (and certainly the funniest)and#8230;introduction to Churchill yet writtenand#8230; delightful and effervescent.and#8221; and#8212;The Daily Beast
Synopsis
London is still the mother ship for Americans, many of whom share the opinion of its tousle-headed, bicycle-riding mayor - that indeed it's the best city in the world. And as the capital takes center of the world stage with the 2012 Olympics, who better than Boris (as he is known) to convey how London became one of the most exciting and influential places on Earth?
Wearing his brilliance and erudition with characteristic wit, Boris narrates the story of his city as a kind of relay race of outsized characters, beginning with the days when "a bunch of pushy Italians" created Londinium. He passes the torch on down through a procession of the famous and infamous, the brilliant and the bizarre - from Hadrian to Shakespeare to Florence Nightingale to the Rolling Stones- illuminating with unforgettable clarity each figure and the era he or she inhabited. He also pauses to shine a light on places and developments that have contributed to the city's incomparable vibrancy, from the flush toilet to the King James Bible. As wildly entertaining as it is informative, this is an irresistible account of the city and people that in large part shaped the world we know.
About the Author
Boris Johnson is the very popular and internationally known Mayor of London. Educated at Oxford, he began his career as a journalist, writing for the Times and the Telegraph (for whom he still contributes a regular column), and working his way up to editor of the Spectator. He is the author of Johnson's Life of London (Riverhead, 2012) and The Churchill Factor (Riverhead, 2014). He was elected to the House of Commons in 2001 and served there until he was elected Mayor in 2008. Johnson is a regular on British television and radio. He lives in London with his wife and four children.