Churchill walking with destiny

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Winston Churchill is a towering figure in twentieth-century British history, revered by many as the greatest man in the world by the time of his death in 1965. Andrew Roberts draws on over forty new sources, including King George VI's private diaries, to present a more intimate and persuasive portrayal than previous biographies. The work does not shy away from Churchill's faults, allowing readers to appreciate his virtues: his immense capacity for work and drink, his big-picture thinking, willingness to take risks, and presence in critical moments. His good humor in dire circumstances, strong friendships, and unexpected emotional outbursts are also highlighted. The biography delves into the roots of his personality, revealing a lifelong desire to please his father and an aristocratic disdain for others' opinions, alongside his love for the British Empire and a keen sense of history. During WWII, Churchill frequently summoned a young scientist for advice, who felt "recharged by a source of living power." Harry Hopkins, Roosevelt's emissary, noted that wherever Churchill was, there was a battlefront. Field Marshal Sir Alan Brooke, a key strategist and private critic, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work alongside such a remarkable man, recognizing that "occasionally such supermen exist on this earth."