"Winston Churchill's formative years were spent in the Indian Summer of the Victorian era. As a consequence, the major contradictory currents of rational pragmatism and romantic emotionalism characteristic of that period influenced Churchhill's emerging character and personality and shaped his attitude toward war. Paradoxically, these developments, in an age of limited warfare, prepared this essentially Victorian man for leadership in the greatest of all total wars"--Page 4 of cover.

The Victorian framework -- The Great and Total War -- The Second World War and the remarkable trinity -- The Great Game in the Second World War.