Synopses & Reviews
The first Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722) was a soldier of such genius that a lavish palace, Blenheim, was built to honor his triumphs. Succeeding generations of Churchills sometimes achieved distinction but also included profligates and womanizers, and were saddled with the ruinous upkeep of Blenheim. The family fortunes were revived in the nineteenth century by the huge dowries of New York society beauties Jennie Jerome (Winston's mother) and Consuelo Vanderbilt (wife to Winston's cousin).Mary S. Lovell brilliantly recounts the triumphant political and military campaigns, the construction of great houses, the domestic tragedies, and the happy marriage of Winston to Clementine Hosier set against the disastrous unions of most of his family, which ended in venereal disease, papal annulment, clinical depression, and adultery.The Churchills were an extraordinary family: ambitious, impecunious, impulsive, brave, and arrogant. Winston recently voted The Greatest Briton dominates them all. His failures and triumphs are revealed in the context of a poignant and sometimes tragic private life.
Review
"Famous lives ever fascinate, and does Lovell ever deliver." Booklist
Review
"An absorbing good read even for folks who don't typically indulge in history. . . . Lovell's writing style will keep general readers wanting more." Library Journal
Review
"Meticulously detailed. . . eminently readable." Walter Olson
Synopsis
Mary S. Lovell brilliantly recounts the triumphant political and military campaigns, domestic tragedies, happy marriages, and disastrous unions throughout generations of Churchills.
The first Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722) was a soldier of such genius that a lavish palace, Blenheim, was built to honor his triumphs. Succeeding generations of Churchills sometimes achieved distinction but also included profligates and womanizers and were saddled with the ruinous upkeep of Blenheim. The Churchills were an extraordinary family, and they were connected with everyone who mattered in Britain. Winston Churchill--voted "the Greatest Briton" in a nationwide poll--dominates them all.
Synopsis
The First Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722) was a soldier of such genius that a lavish palace, Blenheim, was built to honor his triumphs. Succeeding generations of Churchills sometimes achieved distinction but also included profligates and womanizers and were saddled with the ruinous upkeep of Blenheim. The Churchills were an extraordinary family: ambitious, impecunious, impulsive, brave, and arrogant. Winston Churchill--recently voted "the Greatest Briton"--dominates them all. His failures and his triumphs are revealed here in the context of his poignant and sometimes tragic private life.
Synopsis
"Intelligent and well-written. . . . Lovell weaves together all the anecdotes so seamlessly, and it's such fun to read."--Wendy Smith,
About the Author
Mary S. Lovell's best-selling biographies include Straight on Till Morning (Beryl Markham) and The Sisters (the Mitford family). She lives in England.