Churchill: A Life, Part 2 (1918-1965)

By: Martin Gilbert

Narrated by: Christian Rodska

Length: 14 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Churchill: A Life follows Winston Churchill from his earliest days to his moments of triumph. Here, the drama and excitement of his story are ever-present. Martin Gilbert gives us a vivid portrait, using Churchill's most personal letters and the recollections of his contemporaries, both friends and enemies, to go behind the scenes of some of the stormiest and most fascinating political events of our time.

Part 2 takes us from the end of the First World War to Churchill’s death in 1965. Christian Rodska reads the second part of Martin Gilbert’s epic, definitive biography of Winston Churchill.

©1991 Martin Gilbert (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Sir Winston Churchill

This was an incredible recording of an incredible life written so beautifully by Martin Gilbert. I am still waiting

Interesting and compelling

Superb narrator. Exciting and energetic narrative. Account of Churchill politically illuminating but some lack of complexity in regard to components of his personality and the historical events to which he devoted himself.

Interesting long just like WC’s life

I tried to read the hardback book but wasn’t able to stay focused. The Audible version made finishing it much easier. Very grateful!

Superb performance

These books (Part 1 and 2) aren't that good. They give an overview of Churchill's life, glossing over controversies, leaving out details that would be to the detriment of the man, subtly suggesting that Churchill was without any serious faults. It paints an entertaining picture, but is rather superficial.
However, if you want a virtuoso performance by an incredible reader, this is your book. Rodska has a wonderful Churchill-accent and he can seamlessly switch from normal to Winston and back in one sentence. But that's just the beginning: I've heard American, Irish, French, German, Australian and a few more and that, paired with a lively reading make this a magnificent performance. A few times I became irritated by the hagiographic tendencies of the writer and wanted to put it down, but the joy of listening to this reader kept me going.

Engaging biography of a great man, part 2

Although rather long, this is well worth listening to. It is quite straightforward and has no hero-worship. Today one does not hear enough about this great man, and such books redress that somewhat. The author is Churchill's authorized biographer, an eminent historian. The narration is well done.

Churchill: A Life - Required Reading

Greatness, tenacity, and accomplishment. THE mover shaker of the 20th century. Wish I had read it sooner.

Very good

A straight-forward biography of a most interesting character, very well written and excellently performed.

Sir Martin Gilbert At His Best, Perfected By Christian Rodska

Long story short, Sir Martin Gilbert is the gold standard when it comes to Churchill biographies. For being dubbed, "The Official Churchill Biographer," he is incredibly fair and even in his portrayal of the man. Whilst presenting the complexities of his character and the times he lived, it brings forth a truly human picture. Yet also managing to uphold the most important duty of any historian, analyzing history within the context that it occurred.

Christian Rodska, as usual, is masterful. There is no audiobook written or regarding Winston Churchill that is complete without Rodska's singular contribution.

Wonderful insight and inspiration can be drawn from Churchill's biography

I was born two years before WW2 commenced. Churchill's story has given me a comprehensive view of all the snippets I have gleaned in nearly seventy nine years of life. It underlines so much of a perspective that I would wish to bequeath to my grandchildren and their contemporaries. Christian Rodska's use of voices and accents gives remarkable clarity and life to the the persons described and the sources quoted by the author. Churchill's statesmanship could provide a great example and antidote to the shallow and selfish politics of today.

Amazing performance

Gilbert's biography provides a comprehensive overview of a remarkable life in a relatively short book. A great book for those, like me, who know little about Churchill and wish to learn more. One quibble, I wish the book provided more insight into Churchill's psyche. Rodska's performance is extraordinarily.