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

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)

Deeply Engrossing

This first volume of Manchester's admirable biography of Churchill provides fascinating detail on Churchill's first 58 years. If you're interested in the two world wars, and the greatest personality of his era, the man who did the most to save the world from Hitler, dig in, and be prepared to immerse yourself in a bygone world, brilliantly researched and richly painted. I am now on Volume III, and have enjoyed every hour spent listening to this extraordinary biography of an extraordinary man.

Listeners who dislike British accents may not appreciate Davidson's reading, but hang in there... the rich and engrossing story survives this dated recording.

superb

a real joy and engaging writing style that grows on you. And Churchill was a pretty amazing guy and a life that could be a plot for many movies.

A Fine Biography

Reccommend this to all Churchillians and lovers of history. A comprehensive study of Churchill's boyhood, youth, military adventures and early success in Parliament, and his many missteps as well and wilderness experience. Did not care for the narration. Made it difficult to stay awake.

Surprisingly hilarious

No, seriously, the book is amazingly funny. For all I've admired and respected Churchill, the thought of him bursting out in a theater "If the donkey dies, I should leave" was just awesomely funny. Certainly the well known wit is featured, but the, very human, playfulness he showed to his wife and children made for genuine humor.

Yes, it's a mindbogglingly thorough history of the man, and it's not all fun. Some of it is simply heart wrenching. Some reads like an adventure novel. However, if you're not laughing a good bit this book you probably should see a professional about it.

Awe inspiring

This and the second and third volumes were sensational. It's incredible to me that any one person could have lived such a life. I could not recommend a book any more highly.

Great book but...

I never thought I would say this about a biography but there was almost too much detail at times to the point of losing interest. The first 4-5 chapters of the book were setting the scene of the 1800s and what people were doing, wearing, thinking, etc. And then Winston Churchill was born. It was almost too much to bear.

It's a great story but a tedious read at times. I highly recommend the audiobook as it will prevent you from re-reading the same line over and over when your mind wanders. The audiobook pushes through the muck.

Amazing reader, excellent writer!

Obviously, this is not a book for the casual listener. But if you are interested in the history of the Victorian period, WWI, the English Empire, or (obviously) Winston Churchill himself, you will not regret downloading this book. It is thorough, but not tedious, which in a book this length is quite the accomplishment. It is a far from a simple hagiography - we see Churchill with all his warts and poor decisions without any attempt at justifying or or explaining away incongruities. It does a good job portraying the wonderful complexity of the circumstances and personality that go into producing a great man like Churchill.

The reader deserves a special mention - his Churchill voice is very good, his accents are very good (except his Russian one!), and his reading is simply perfect for this volume. I highly recommend this audiobook.

Fascinating!

Loved the information in the book. Not only was history of Churchill interesting, the history and mores of the culture were very enlightening. The narrator does an excellent job with all of the character voices.

Magnificent

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

The narration and, in fact, the performance of this book by Frederick Davidson is not only entertaining, but compelling.

What did you like best about this story?

The great prose.

Which character – as performed by Frederick Davidson – was your favorite?

All, but especially WSC.

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

no

Any additional comments?

LOVED IT!!

Great book and wonderful performance

I’ve enjoyed this book immensely! I’ve learned so much about Churchill, the history of the British Empire during his lifetime. Churchill lived through momentous times as a pivotal player in those times. I’ve had to drive a lot for work of late and this excellent book has made the going so much more pleasurable. Highly recommended.

I don’t ordinarily gush about the reading of a book but this man does such a stellar job of it! That makes the book come to life. He has different voices for different people, different voices for the same persons at different times in their lives. He does all manner of accents, he sings songs. He reaches high and if he falters its only very very rarely and only because of the ambition with which he approaches his performance.