What remains to be explored in the life of Winston Churchill? Master historian P.F. Clarke does the seemingly impossible - finds a fresh perspective on one of the most written-about figures in history. When Churchill received the Nobel Prize in 1953, it was not for his role as a world leader, but for literature. In fact, Churchill was a gifted and successful writer long before he was a politician, publishing a stream of books and articles over the course of hsi life. Here, Clarke traces Churchill's literary career and unfolds the making of the magisterial work that occupied him on and off for a quarter of a century : hist four-volume A History of the English-speaking peoples.

The two careers of Winston S. Churchill. -- Father's boy: heritage, 1874-97 -- Mother's boy: the author of his fortune, 1898-1921 -- The author of his reputation. -- The English-speaking peoples before Churchill -- Author, two contracts, 1922-32 -- The struggle on two fronts, 1933-38 -- The historian as prophet, 1938-39 -- The author of victory, 1940-45 -- The author as celebrity, 1945-65.