The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Volume II: Alone, 1932-1940: Winston Spencer Churchill, Volume II: Alone, 1932-1940

By: William Manchester

Narrated by: Richard Brown

Length: 36 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

This second volume in William Manchester's three-volume biography of Winston Churchill challenges the assumption that Churchill's finest hour was as a wartime leader. During the years 1932-1940, he was tested as few men are. Pursued by creditors (at one point he had to put up his home for sale), he remained solvent only by writing an extraordinary number of books and magazine articles. He was disowned by his own party, and dismissed by the BBC, Fleet Street, and the social and political establishments as a warmonger, and twice nearly lost his seat in Parliament. Churchill stood almost alone against Nazi aggression and the pusillanimous British and French policy of appeasement.

Manchester tracks with new insights this complex, fascinating history, without ever losing sight of Churchill the man - a man whose vision was global and whose courage was boundless.

©1988 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)

Great Voices

The reader makes this an excellent book. His ability to sound like Churchill, change his voice for ladies, sing a song, etc. are entertaining. The story is interesting and well presented. Very even balanced on a very controversial person.

Great biography in great detail!

Hi love this thorough Biography of Winston Churchill. The research with key figures from memoirs of many of the key figures the detail of covering this period of Churchill's life is really enlightning.

Great History of the Start of WWII

The author paints a great picture of England's involvement in the early stages of WWII and the role Churchill played in shaping the effort. As the author notes, in order to understand the man, Churchill, the reader must also understand the environment of the time, which the author explains in great detail. I can't wait to read the last book of this trilogy!

By far the best historical account of the time!

Even though a lot of people complained about a different narrator of this book compared to the previous, I personally found that this narration is just as good or possibly even better than in the first book. This book is a must listen. It's a perfect account of Churchill's personality and the environment that lead him to make the hard decisions. I found myself disgusted with how shortsighted Chamberlain was and the parliamentary interplay of values, intrigues and power was extremely fascinating. As I said a must listen.

Audio quality lacking

Great story of a great man. The reader was fine, but the audio volume changed quite a bit. Listening in my car, I'd have to increase or lower the volume often, just to hear what the reader was saying. A bit annoying. I am sure this is more of a technical/production thing - but it is worth noting.

Well rounded book of this time in Churchill’s life

The audio book is amazing! It is a different reader than the first book but still good after I got used to the different voice. If you are interested in Winston Churchill or the time of history between 1920-1940, it is worth your time. Very long but detailed book.

Excellent book, poor choice of narrator

Would you listen to The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Volume II: Alone, 1932-1940: Winston Spencer Churchill, Volume II: Alone, 1932-1940 again? Why?

I would not look for a book with Richard Brown as narrator, at least as far as Churchill is concerned. In the first volume, Frederick Davidson is masterful. He not only perfectly executes Churchill's unique accent, but also those of the other leading figures of the volume. Brown, by comparison, has not bothered to research or can not mimic Churchill's voice, so the quotes are flat and without Churchill's unique wit and humor.

How could the performance have been better?

Choice of a better narrator. See above.

Just wonderful!

This is my second time listening to the series. Couldn't be better! Well read and narrated.

Superb coverage of 1930-1939

Extensive and detailed the Manchester volumes cover Winston Churchill with accuracy and you are left thinking that this could happen again

Churchillian patience...

outlasted the failed policies of Appeasement. It's shameful that we have appeasers running the media, and they learned nothing from Churchill.