In this powerful biography, the middle volume of William Manchesters critically acclaimed trilogy, Winston Churchill wages his defining campaign: not against Hitlers war machine but against his own reluctant countrymen. Manchester contends that even more than his leadership in combat, Churchills finest hour was the uphill battle against appeasement. As Parliament received with jeers and scorn his warnings against the growing Nazi threat, Churchill stood aloneonly to be vindicated by history as a beacon of hope amid the gathering storm.

Praise for

Manchester has such control over a huge and moving narrative, such illumination of character . . . that he can claim the considerable achievement of having assembled enough powerful evidence to support Isaiah Berlins judgment of Churchill as the largest human being of our time.

Memorable.

Stirring . . . As Manchester points out several times, its as if the age, having produced a Hitler, then summoned Churchill as the only figure equal to the task of vanquishing him. The years are the pivotal years of Churchills career.

The best Churchill biography [for] this generation . . . Even readers who know the basic story will find much that is new.

A triumph . . . equal in stature to the first volume of the series.

Vivid . . . history in the grand manner.

Compelling reading. (London)