Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat

By: John Lukacs

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 2 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

On May 13, 1940, Winston Churchill stood before the House of Commons to deliver his first speech as prime minister. Europe was in crisis: three days earlier, Germany had invaded France and the Low Countries. Facing only feeble resistance, Hitler's armies were rapidly sweeping westward.

Churchill had little support within the British government when he rose to address it that day. He lacked confidence, both in himself and in his ability to lead his nation to victory, for he recognized, far earlier than most, the military genius of Adolph Hitler and the potency of the German military.

In Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat, the eminent historian and master storyteller John Lukacs recreates this pivotal moment in world history, and reveals Churchill as he has rarely been seen before: as a man both unsure of himself and deeply fearful of his nation's defeat.

©2008 John Lukacs (P)2008 BBC Audiobooks America

Simply Outstanding

i have read much about WWII, the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt, the life of Winston Churchill and his relationships to Roosevelt and Stalin. However, this short audio look at Churchill's speeches and what they reveal about his understanding of the war and of Britain's place in the world that would come after the war completely astounded me. i now wish Roosevelt could have stepped back from his egotism just a bit to see what a gift he had in the foresight and wisdom of Winston Churchill. i have listened to this recording twice and will return to it again I am sure.

Words Matter

Lukacs focuses both his robust scholarship and lived experience on an assessment of a few carefully chosen words of the man who stood between much of the world’s potential enslavement.

The narrator is up to the task. Not easy when the book is about a speech.

Excellent essay!

Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat: The Dire Warning: Churchill's First Speech as Prime Minister, by John Lukacs (2008, audiobook 3 hours). This short book—an essay—is a tight look at Churchill’s less than universally welcomed ascension to power in Great Britain at the beginning of WWII and his stiff resolve in confronting German aggression as exemplified by his Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat speech. Excellent summary of this speech which, interestingly, was not universally appreciated at the time, but which underscored a resolve that in the moment resided in Winston but not necessarily either the people or the government for whom he was speaking.

Loved it

I guess with AI could now get some type of speech recognition and “hear” the speeches never recorded.

very enjoyable listen!

excellent narration by John Lee, as always! Churchill was a great orator, his speeches were inspiring!

P well researched and well written.

Brief and nicely done. Narrated does a fine job particularly with Churchhill voice impressions during the speech, especially needful with this program contact.

The familiar but inspiring saga, well told

Lukacs wrote at least three books about Churchill, all fairly short, all rather moving, all with the same distinctive meditative style, that of a reflective man who offers broad conclusions, then mulls over whether his own wording was really precisely correct. (It’s a little hard to describe, but it makes for an enjoyable listen.) This book, which takes less than three hours, is basically a once-over-lightly history with few details, and the story it tells will be familiar to World War II buffs. But it’s well told, especially as read — quite stirringly — by John Lee.

Inspiring

This is a great inspiration for every area of life. Highly recommend listening and studying the content.

The best of writers and narrators

John Lukacs is an unfailingly insightful historian, with his clear-sighted analysis always on target. This work brings us to see the bigger picture that Churchill knew, the long view, that most could never envision. John Lee compliments this skill with a perfect understanding of the text, and with perfect emphasis. A delight in every way for repeated listenings, and deeper learning.

interesting to hear the truth

never let these events be forgotten. 2021 western culture exists because of Churchill and the brave people who backed him. I think it's a better world now because the nazi culture was defeated.