Comments on: “The Last Lion” Volume III is Published

By: Steve Franckhauser

Steve Franckhauser — Sat, 01 Aug 2020 04:26:27 +0000

I found this “joint effort” to be educational, entertaining and interesting. The writing style appeals to me and while we will never know precisely what Wm. M. would have done had time permitted we do know that time did not permit. Sir Winston comes across as an extraordinary human with insecurities borne, I think, from knowing that he had done more than anyone to save Europe and perhaps the world from unmitigated horrors. All of this at the expense of most of the British Empire; certainly most of its wealth. That had to be a bitter pill to swallow.

By: Maxwell Feather

Maxwell Feather — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 17:38:25 +0000

Thank you to Paul Reid for synthesizing the research of William Manchester and creating a compelling read. If, in future editions, he could show areas of conflict and critical moments written of but not reflected on the maps. For example, include Yalta on the map showing the Black Sea.

By: Churchill's Biographers: Gilbert vs. Manchester - Richard M. Langworth

Churchill's Biographers: Gilbert vs. Manchester - Richard M. Langworth — Mon, 19 May 2014 11:59:26 +0000

[…] appreciation of Churchill. In 1986, as Manchester was completing Volume II of The Last Lion, he received an encouraging note from Gilbert: “Our work proceeds on parallel […]

By: gilbert

gilbert — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 18:25:30 +0000

robert laffont translated the first two volumes so many years ago in french when asked they told me they wont translate third . no expanation given but i did not ask why ..

By: Richard M. Langworth

Richard M. Langworth — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:26:31 +0000

In reply to Lars. It has been translated into Russian and Chinese, but so far not German or French.

By: Lars

Lars — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 07:31:20 +0000

I am on Page 770, takes some time to read it in english, will there be a translation to german? Thanks Lars

By: Richard M. Langworth

Richard M. Langworth — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 19:20:58 +0000

In reply to jerry helzner. Thanks for your comments, relayed to the author.

By: jerry helzner

jerry helzner — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 15:00:32 +0000

Hate to be the picky one but in every other book I have read (which is a lot), the admiral responsible for aborting the Wake Island rescue mission in December 1941 was Admiral Pye.
The Last Lion cites Admiral Fletcher as aborting this important mission. I have never read that anywhere before. In fact, the opposite. I have read that Admiral Fletcher was disgusted that he had to turn back.

By: Jerry Helzner

Jerry Helzner — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 17:21:18 +0000

I sailed through the first 360 pages, loving every page and marveling at the attention to detail.
Then, I got to the section on the pursuit and sinking of the Bismarck.
No mention of the gallant Swordfish biplane attacks and the Swordfish bomb that disabled the Bismarck’s poorly designed rudder and left the big ship going in circles.
I don’t want to be too picky but the story of the sinking of the Bismarck has been widely documented. This is a pretty big whiff to leave out the key role of the Swordfish attacks.

By: Ray

Ray — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:54:46 +0000

I am ecstatic!! Finally!! Thank you!!!

By: Juliann Stark

Juliann Stark — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:36:47 +0000

I closed Defender of the Realm last night with a tremendous sense of satisfaction and some regret that it had come to an end. Overall I was hugely impressed with the work Paul Reid did, not least that he undertook and completed the assignment at all. I have only a couple of comments. In much of the book, especially I would say the last third, Churchill the man is absent. Manchester never let him out of his sight, always coming back to the private man, no matter what else was going on. Many times in Defender I very much missed this. I especially missed the sense of Clementine's presence throughout, and felt what was said about her was increasingly negative. There were some typos and grammatical errors, yes, but these are really inevitable in a book of this length, and didn't bother me. I did not find the final section perfunctory. It seemed completely adequate to me and was very moving. Nor did I think Reid failed to impart an appreciation of Churchill's life. It was clear throughout the book. I have already read the first two books twice and will return to the entire trilogy when some time has gone by.

By: Juliann Stark

Juliann Stark — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 02:49:25 +0000

After rereading Visions of Glory and Alone in preparation, last night I sighed happily and opened Defender of the Realm at last. I have only read the Preamble so far, but it was like coming home. I am doing my best not to compare Reid with Manchester, but to gratefully accept and appreciate the passing of the baton for what it is. It is wonderful to have the tale told.

By: Richard M. Langworth

Richard M. Langworth — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:53:48 +0000

In reply to Ward Beattie. Many thanks for the sharp-eyed corrections. I am forwarding any received herein to the author.

By: Ward Beattie

Ward Beattie — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 19:54:41 +0000

I now have the book, eagerly awaited. As is my habit, I frequently read biographies out of order, so I started with the years after WW II. My initial impression is that this is a bit rushed, but then perhaps to continue the story Reid/Manchester would have had to expand on Churchill's impact on others more amply than they do. The final pages seem a bit perfunctory, and I missed a biographer's appreciation of the meaning of this life. I was also disappointed to find a couple of obvious copy editing errors. On p. 1022, Churchill is inducted to the Order of the Garter: "And so [he] became Sir Winston Churchill, K.B." This should be K.G. On p. 1029, Churchill returns to England on the RMS Queen Elizabeth, "christened in 1938 in honor of the first Elizabeth." In fact, the liner was named for the queen's mother, consort of George VI, not for Queen Elizabeth I.

By: S Armentrout

S Armentrout — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:25:37 +0000

Having waited for these many years, wondering how Wm. M. was getting on, I say this book is well worth the wait. It's ironic that Manchester who worked so closely with the Sage of Baltimore, H.L. Mencken, was so slow to engage someone to help him in the 90's when true collaboration might have been possible. I get a kick from the occasional insights into Churchill's quirky behaviors i.e. "I can fix an egg, I've seen it done; .... we are coming by puff, puff." It's history in the most readable fashion, though I wish there were more maps, esp. of the Far East. I've seen Mr. Reid on one TV interview. Does he plan to travel around for book signings, if you know. I've several copies which I'd like signed - a first for me - if that's possible. Thanks for maintaining this blog for us watchers and waiters.

By: Richard M. Langworth

Richard M. Langworth — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 16:34:04 +0000

In reply to Glen Kissel. Wow. Mr. Reid replies: "The lectern I already caught, will be corrected in next printing (although modern dictionaries allow podium but do not endorse it). "Revelation (sic) will be fixed. "I did a story on the millennium back in 2000, interviewed Stephen J. Gould. The century begins on Jan. 1 1900, or 2000 etc. There is no year zero, and that's where the confusion comes from. I had a footnote in the book about this, but took it out."

By: Glen Kissel

Glen Kissel — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 02:00:16 +0000

I'm up to page 262, and I've already caught some errors. On page 240, quoting Muggeridge, it should read, "Book of Revelations [sic]," because it really should be "Book of Revelation." On page 257: One stands on a podium, but behind a lectern. Thus it should read, "...Roosevelt steadied himself behind the lectern." Again on page 257, technically January 6, 1900 was in the nineteenth century, so referring to Waggon Hill as, " one of the first battles of the twentieth century," is not correct.

By: Richard C. Geschke

Richard C. Geschke — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 19:26:03 +0000

More than half way through it and love the book. It is indeed the cherry on top of a truly magnificent trilogy on Winston S. Churchill.

By: Juliann Stark

Juliann Stark — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:27:50 +0000

Thank you. I found the photo sections.

By: James Powers

James Powers — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 17:46:51 +0000

The dust cover photo is truly terrible.
Why would anybody chosse it for the cover is beyond me.