Clementine: 1

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Ms Purnell has written a fascinating look at the wife of probably the 20th Century’s greatest citizen of Great Britain and maybe it’s greatest prime minister. The author had the advantage of thousands of letters and notes passed between them over the course of their lives and it allowed her to paint a very complete picture of both their personal and public relationship. To say Winston was a difficult man to live with is an understatement. Yet in over 60 yrs of marriage, there was very little hint of scandal or other people intruding into their marriage. It seems that unlike their parents they remained faithful to each other for the length of their lives together.

She had Winston's complete trust and was privy to a majority of top-secret information during the war.This biography certainly emphasizes the personal, which I like. There is a chapter entitled “Operation Seduction USA” which shows how Churchills’ daughter Sarah was “involved” with Gil Winant (the newly appointed U.S. ambassador); both were married at the time. Their daughter-in-law Pamela (married to their son Randolph) was openly carrying on an affair with Averill Harriman (the U.S. lend-lease representative in London). Likely the Churchills’ felt sorry for Pamela in her tempestuous marriage with their son.

An intimate biography of a powerful woman, a woman behind a "throne" of one of the most powerful, influential men of our times. I have to confess that I do not like biographies. For me they are dull and too full of put-you-to-sleep details. I read this book for a book club and though I did like it I allowed myself to be distracted by my interesting fictional books. I really cannot say I have any complaints with the book. I thought first I should give it five stars because of this very fact. Instead I am going by my gut reaction; I REALLY like the book so I am giving it four stars. For me a five star book has to have something that makes it shine exceptionally, an element of superb imagination. The book is a very good analysis of the complex relationships found within the Churchill family and a clear review of the individuals’ lives. There are zillions of books on Winston Churchill and his role in the wars but this book fills a gap not covered before! The events of the First and Second World War are drawn from a British point of view, in a concise and clear manner only referring to those events directly related to the Churchills. The Dardanelles disaster, Winston’s “wilderness years” of the 30s and the efforts of him and his wife in drawing America into the Second World War are told from a perspective I have not read before. Hearing of Clementine’s views and behind-the-scenes involvement is eye-opening. I appreciated the explanation of why even after victory at the end of the Second World War Churchill failed to be reelected. Generally a victor is honored! How Churchill reacted and how Clementine reacted to losing the election in 1945 and what they felt and did is interesting to observe. I found it revealing to compare the respective couples - the Roosevelts and the Churchills. Clementine was so very different from Eleanor, yet both helped, guided and opposed their respective husband in their own way. One views markedly different personalities and different cultures. The close look at Clementine’s importance to Winston and her role in his career has not been covered with such depth in the other books I have read as it is here. Engrossing…the first formal biography of a woman who has heretofore been relegated to the sidelines.” –The New York Times

Through the ups and downs of his tumultuous career, in the tense days when he stood against Chamberlain and the many months when he helped inspire his fellow countrymen and women to keep strong and carry on, Clementine made her husband’s career her mission, at the expense of her family, her health and, fatefully, of her children. Any real consideration of Winston Churchill is incomplete without an understanding of their relationship. Clementine is both the first real biography of this remarkable woman and a fascinating look inside their private world. Clementine would have to act as the antennae for Winston, as he was not very perceptive on how he was perceived by others. She would alert him to his bad behavior such as being overbearing and domineering. He would listen to her and change, though rarely apologise. Clementine was one of the few people in Churchill’s circle who was unafraid to confront him. There were frequent loud arguments! Siunčiu tau šią atminimo dovaną, nors jokios dovanos negali išreikšti mano dėkingumo už tai, kad gyvendama su manimi, visus mano darbus padarei galimus" Unlike her American counterpart Eleanor Roosevelt, Clementine Churchill has received relatively little recognition or approbation from history. Eleanor is heralded as one of the great women of the century in her own right; indeed, she lived such a separate life from her equally famous husband Franklin Roosevelt that her role as a wife is very much the least of the hats she wore. In contrast, whatever fame or recognition Clementine has earned over the years, her name is always coupled with that of Winston, never independently. So what happens to the reader who runs into factual errors when a non-fiction book has barely been begun? For me, the entire book becomes suspect. I have put this book aside and am going to buy a different biography of a woman about whom I was and remain deeply interested.

Recommended for its broad scale portrait of two immensely important personalities, neither of whom were particularly likable individuals in their personal lives--if you can tolerate a certain amount of infelicitous writing. The reader's relationship with a non-fiction author is a little like a love affair: trust is a crucial element in such a relationship. Once trust has been breached it is never wholly regained. In just this book's introduction the breach of trust occurred first in the form of one deliberate misrepresentation. and then in an egregious misstatement of fact.Their living arrangements were also not typical. They both had their own rooms and interests and except at meal times were rarely in the same room at the same time. Also, they often took separate vacations. Ms Purnell says Clementine needed the time apart to recuperate and regain her strength. The author calculated that perhaps they spent only 20% of their married lives in each other’s company.