• The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Volume I: Visions of Glory 1874-1932

  • By: William Manchester
  • Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
  • Length: 41 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (2,635 ratings)

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The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Volume I: Visions of Glory 1874-1932  By  cover art

The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Volume I: Visions of Glory 1874-1932

By: William Manchester
Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
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Publisher's summary

Winston Churchill is perhaps the most important political figure of the 20th century. His great oratory and leadership during the Second World War were only part of his huge breadth of experience and achievement. Studying his life is a fascinating way to imbibe the history of his era and gain insight into key events that have shaped our time.

In political office at the end of WWI, Churchill foresaw the folly of Versailles and feared what a crippled Germany would do to the balance of power. In his years in the political wilderness, from 1931 to 1939, he alone of all British public men, continually raised his voice against Hitler and his appeasers. For over 50 years, he was constantly involved in, and usually at the center of, the most important events of his age. It was, however, his obduracy on matters of principle, his fortitude in the face of opposition, and his perseverance in standing alone that defined him.

©1983 William Manchester (P)1990 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Manchester is not only a master of detail but also of 'the big picture'....I daresay most Americans reading The Last Lion will relish it immensely." ( National Review)
"[Manchester] can claim the considerable achievement of having assembled enough powerful evidence to support Isaiah Berlin's judgment of Churchill as the largest human being of our time." (Alistair Cooke)

What listeners say about The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Volume I: Visions of Glory 1874-1932

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Enthralling

A depiction not only of Churchill's early life, but of the character and circumstances of the Victorian world that shaped him. If Churchill had died at the close of this volume — before performing any of the great feats with which he is associated today — Manchester's work would stand as a testament to why he still ought to be counted among the most visionary statesmen of his generation.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Unending boring minutiae

Much more about Churchill and his social setting than I can deal with. Almost cancelled a third of the way but I respect him so much l continued. Very tough while doing my walk, especially with British reader.

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Accent

I found this book to be interesting. However as an American English speaker I found it very taxing to focus on the accent yet still missing words. I could not finish the book past 30 minutes from the beginning. Even though the narrator had good diction but it was impossible to enjoy due to the accent.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome story, wonderful presentation

Would you consider the audio edition of The Last Lion to be better than the print version?

I don't have the print edition, but Davidson's narration is wonderful-- totally enjoyable. It takes a couple chapters to appreciate all his 'impersonations' (e.g. female characters), but as the story progresses, you will appreciate the variety it brings.

What did you like best about this story?

Churchill is an amazing character-- I expected that, but the author does a wonderful of job of setting the environment, and providing just enough background and detail for other important characters (e.g. his mother, General Kitchener, et cetera).

What about Frederick Davidson’s performance did you like?

His intonations / impersonations of characters, and of course, Churchill! Brilliant!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but it is too long for that. Plus, you don't want it to be over too soon.

Any additional comments?

It is a long listen. Be patient. Allow the author and narrator to draw you in.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A Fantastic Biography and History of a Great Man

I grabbed this audiobook as the second I had ever purchased on Audible on a whim. I had just finished watching a short documentary on Chruchill and wanted to learn a little bit more about him.

I grabbed this with one of my precious credits, figuring the extraordinary length could help me stretch that credit into a couple of months. I wasn't wrong.

However, don't let the length of this audiobook put you off, nor it subject matter, which in the wrong hand could be very dry. Manchester was the perfect man to write this biography (and at time I have a hard time calling it that.)

The reason I have a hard time calling this just a biography, is that Churchill the man was very much a product of the era he was born in and the era in which he was raised. In keeping with that, Manchester does an amazing job giving a history lesson on late Victorian England and the end of a century. It's as much a biography as a historical piece on a time period. The time period is as much a part of Churchill as Churchill is of it.

The author often leaves the subject of solely Churchill to explore the end of the Victorian era, and I often would not even notice. Manchester does an amazing job world building the past and placing Churchill within that world so that his story is so much richer.

The book follows Churchill from his early, and often troubled childhood to the end of an era and the begging of another. The rise of Nazism in post-World War I Europe.

The narration is superb. I only wish Davidson had done the other two in this trilogy. His accent is spot on and his Churchill is amazing. He ages the voice and you are able to hear the childlike innocence give way to the exuberance of a young military officer, to the strength and decisiveness of the Lord of the Admiralty.

One of my favorite things though was the different accents Davidson would affect. Especially the American. Interesting to hear an Englishman do an American accent and he did an excellent job.

If you have any interest in Churchill, the United Kingdom, World War I, or the Victorian Era and the beginning of the 20th century, I highly recommend this audiobook! You will definitely get the full value of your credit here!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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The Most Interesting Man In the World

Any additional comments?

It's difficult to convey how remarkable and influential Sir Winston Churchill was to the unfolding of the 20th century and, in fact, the fate of the world. It's also hard to explain how many truly bizarre turns he experienced throughout his life. His sad, strange upbringing coupled with a brilliance unmatched by any of his peers turns this early-years biography into an epic journey repleat with danger, disappointment, intrige, betrayal and triumph. Even his fiercest detractors admired him for his ample gifts.What a joy to have this first volume narrated by Frederick Davidson whose masterful Churchillian mimickery brings Victorian and Eduardian England to vivid life.There are times where the level of detail is such that the mind drifts away momentarily, but I think that's a function of Manchester's desire to get it all down while there were contemporaries who knew Churchill personally. Do yourself a favor and do not skip this volume to jump into the war years. This book is well worth the telling nd certainly worth a listen. Well done!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Young Winnie finds his way!

What made the experience of listening to The Last Lion the most enjoyable?

I have always been an admirer of Winston Churchill and finally got a chance to listen to this biography by William Manchester. The detail is exquisite and the intimacies into his character are delightful.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mr. Winston Churchill. Duh!

What does Frederick Davidson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I like his singing, his accent sometimes puts me off. I don't pronounce words the way he does. He has a clear strong voice and sounds a lot like Mr. Churchill when quoting him. That is the best part of his narration.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I loved the book. It makes Winston Churchill very human. I love his relationship with his wife and the fact that he calls his children "the kittens". His wife is "Cat" and he is "Pig".

Any additional comments?

This is a big commitment. There are three books in this series, each around 40 hours of listening. This book takes Mr. Churchill to 1932.
Another note: I listened for 4 plus hours before Winston was even born. Like I said, there is lots of detail here, (sometimes a little too much).

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Never have so many owed so much to...The Last Lion

Where does The Last Lion rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is definitely the in the top ten, maybe top five!

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the flow of the book, as it waxed and wained from the cultural background of the Victorian Age to the details of the Churchill life.

What about Frederick Davidson’s performance did you like?

Mr. Davidson's accents are quite good, and his timber remains fairly constant. His impersonation of Churchill, with his characteristic impediment, is very good.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The Man, The Myth, The Lion.

Any additional comments?

This a well-told biography for those who enjoy both storyline and historical fact. The pace is excellent; never did I feel bogged down. I use Audible as a hard educational entertainment tool in a low-light setting where physical reading in usually not practical. Finding entertaining history is sometimes difficult, as often it seems that textbooks are used. This author does well at both entertaining and informing at a pace and manner that doesn't sound like a graduate thesis.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A Window into the Past

Manchester brings dead facts to life in this biography. I feel like I was Churchill's invisabe friend. Its sad when you realize he has been dead for over 40 years. I miss him.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Uggh

Verbose, pompous, tedious. I quit at the 5 hr mark. The book is more about the times and culture of 19th century Victorian England and has little to nothing about Churchill. This is more a sociology book than a biography.

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