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Churchill and empire : a portrait of an imperialist / Lawrence James.

By: Material type: TextTextPublisher: New York : Pegasus Books, 2014Description: viii, 452 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, maps ; 24 cmISBN:
  • 9781605985695
  • 1605985694
Subject(s):
Contents:
Jolly little wars : Omdurman -- He'll be prime minister of England one day : a subaltern's progress -- A dog with a bone : Lieutenant Churchill's imperial world -- An adventurer : questions of character -- Humbugged : the Colonial Office, 1905-1908 -- Tractable British children : more native questions -- Breathing ozone : the Admiralty, October 1911-March 1914 -- These grave matters : the Irish crisis, March-July 1914 -- The interests of Great Britain : the coming of war, July-August 1914 -- A war of empires : an overview, 1914-1918 -- I love this war : the Dardanelles and Gallipoli, August 1914-May 1915 -- A welter of anarchy : Churchill, the Empire and the Bolsheviks, 1919-1922 -- Carry on like Britons : Churchill's Russian war, 1919-1921 -- The weight of the British arm : policing the Empire, 1919-1922 -- Reign of terror : Churchill and Ireland, 1919-1923 -- The possibility of disaster : the Near and Middle East, 1919-1922 -- The will to rule : the struggle to keep India, 1923-1936 -- An unnecessary war, part I : the Japanese challenge, 1931-1939 -- An unnecessary war, part II : appeasement, 1935-1939 -- A war of peoples and causes : Churchill as war leader and strategist -- We felt we were British : the Imperial war effort -- A disaster of the first magnitude : holding the Middle East, 1939-1941 -- Supreme effort : distractions, chiefly French -- Britain's broke : Anglo-American exchanges, 1939-1941 -- A shocking tale : the Singapore debacle, 1941-1942 -- The dark valley : perils and panic, 1942 -- A state of ordered anarchy : India, 1942-1943 -- The wealth of India : subversion and famine, 1943-1945 -- The flag is not let down : Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt -- Fraternal association : America and the future of the British Empire -- Your lofty principles : gains and losses, 1945 -- Abiding power : the Empire and the Cold War, 1946-1951 -- Splutter of musketry : small wars, 1950-1951 -- A falling from power? : atom bombs and Arabs, 1951-1955 -- The third British Empire, 1951-1955.
Summary: Narrative historian Lawrence James has written a genuinely new biography of Winston Churchill, one focusing solely on his contradictory relationship with the British Empire. As a young army officer in the late nineteenth century serving in conflicts in India, South Africa, and the Sudan, his attitude toward the Empire was the Victorian paternalistic approach--at once responsible and superior. Conscious even then of his political career ahead, Churchill found himself reluctantly supporting British atrocities and held what many would regard today as prejudiced views, in that he felt that some nationalities were superior to others. His (some might say obsequious) relationship with America reflected that view: America was a former colony where the natives had become worthy to rule themselves, but--he felt--still had that connection to Britain. This outmoded attitude was one of the reasons the British voters rejected him after leading the country brilliantly in the Second World War. His attitude remained decidedly old-fashioned, truly Victorian, in a world that was shaping up very differently.--From publisher description.
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Item type Current library Collection Call number Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Adult Book Adult Book *Middletown Public Library NON-FICTION 941.084 JAM Available 33581004460706
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

One of our finest narrative historians, Lawrence James has written a genuinely new biography of Winston Churchill, one focusing solely on his relationship with the British Empire. As a young army officer in the late nineteenth century serving in conflicts in India, South Africa, and the Sudan, his attitude toward the Empire was the Victorian paternalistic approach--at once responsible and superior. Conscious even then of his political career ahead, Churchill found himself reluctantly supporting British atrocities and held what many would regard today as prejudiced views, in that he felt that some nationalities were superior to others, his (some might say obsequious) relationship with America reflected that view. This outmoded attitude was one of the reasons the British voters rejected him after a Second World War in which he had led the country brilliantly. His attitude remained decidedly old-fashioned in a world that was shaping up very differently. This ground-breaking volume reveals the many facets of Churchill's personality: a visionary leader with a truly Victorian attitude toward the British Empire.

Narrative historian Lawrence James has written a genuinely new biography of Winston Churchill, one focusing solely on his contradictory relationship with the British Empire. As a young army officer in the late nineteenth century serving in conflicts in India, South Africa, and the Sudan, his attitude toward the Empire was the Victorian paternalistic approach--at once responsible and superior. Conscious even then of his political career ahead, Churchill found himself reluctantly supporting British atrocities and held what many would regard today as prejudiced views, in that he felt that some nationalities were superior to others. His (some might say obsequious) relationship with America reflected that view: America was a former colony where the natives had become worthy to rule themselves, but--he felt--still had that connection to Britain. This outmoded attitude was one of the reasons the British voters rejected him after leading the country brilliantly in the Second World War. His attitude remained decidedly old-fashioned, truly Victorian, in a world that was shaping up very differently.--From publisher description.

Jolly little wars : Omdurman -- He'll be prime minister of England one day : a subaltern's progress -- A dog with a bone : Lieutenant Churchill's imperial world -- An adventurer : questions of character -- Humbugged : the Colonial Office, 1905-1908 -- Tractable British children : more native questions -- Breathing ozone : the Admiralty, October 1911-March 1914 -- These grave matters : the Irish crisis, March-July 1914 -- The interests of Great Britain : the coming of war, July-August 1914 -- A war of empires : an overview, 1914-1918 -- I love this war : the Dardanelles and Gallipoli, August 1914-May 1915 -- A welter of anarchy : Churchill, the Empire and the Bolsheviks, 1919-1922 -- Carry on like Britons : Churchill's Russian war, 1919-1921 -- The weight of the British arm : policing the Empire, 1919-1922 -- Reign of terror : Churchill and Ireland, 1919-1923 -- The possibility of disaster : the Near and Middle East, 1919-1922 -- The will to rule : the struggle to keep India, 1923-1936 -- An unnecessary war, part I : the Japanese challenge, 1931-1939 -- An unnecessary war, part II : appeasement, 1935-1939 -- A war of peoples and causes : Churchill as war leader and strategist -- We felt we were British : the Imperial war effort -- A disaster of the first magnitude : holding the Middle East, 1939-1941 -- Supreme effort : distractions, chiefly French -- Britain's broke : Anglo-American exchanges, 1939-1941 -- A shocking tale : the Singapore debacle, 1941-1942 -- The dark valley : perils and panic, 1942 -- A state of ordered anarchy : India, 1942-1943 -- The wealth of India : subversion and famine, 1943-1945 -- The flag is not let down : Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt -- Fraternal association : America and the future of the British Empire -- Your lofty principles : gains and losses, 1945 -- Abiding power : the Empire and the Cold War, 1946-1951 -- Splutter of musketry : small wars, 1950-1951 -- A falling from power? : atom bombs and Arabs, 1951-1955 -- The third British Empire, 1951-1955.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 391-432) and index.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

  • Acknowledgements (p. ix)
  • Introduction (p. 1)
  • Part 1 1874-1900
  • 1 Jolly Little Wars: Omdurman (p. 7)
  • 2 He'll Be Prime Minister of England One Day: A SubalternÆs Progress (p. 14)
  • 3 A Dog with a Bone: Lieutenant Churchill's Imperial World (p. 19)
  • Part 2 1901-1914
  • 4 An Adventurer: Questions of Character (p. 35)
  • 5 Humbugged: The Colonial Office, 1905-1908 (p. 38)
  • 6 Tractable British Children: More Native Questions (p. 47)
  • 7 Breathing Ozone: The Admiralty, October 1911-March 1914 (p. 57)
  • 8 These Grave Matters: The Irish Crisis, March-July 1914 (p. 73)
  • 9 The Interests of Great Britain; The Coming of War, July-August 1914 (p. 80)
  • Part 3 1914-1922
  • 10 A War of Empires: An Overview, 1914-1918 (p. 89)
  • 11 I Love this War: The Dardanelles and Gallipoli, August 1914-May 1915 (p. 101)
  • 12 A Welter of Anarchy: Churchill, the Empire and the Bolsheviks, 1919-1922 (p. 120)
  • 13 Carry on like Britons: Churchill's Russian War, 1919-1921 (p. 129)
  • 14 The Weight of the British Arm: Policing the Empire, 1919-1922 (p. 134)
  • 15 Reign of Terror: Churchill and Ireland, 1919 -1923 (p. 145)
  • 16 The Possibility of Disaster: The Near and Middle East, 153 1919-1922 (p. 153)
  • Part 4 1923-1939
  • 17 The Will to Rule: The Struggle to Keep India, 1923-1936 (p. 179)
  • 18 An Unnecessary War, Part I: The Japanese Challenge, 1931-1939 (p. 193)
  • 19 An Unnecessary War, Part II: Appeasement, 1935-1939 (p. 203)
  • Part 5 1939-1945
  • 20 A War of Peoples and Causes: Churchill as War Leader and Strategist (p. 221)
  • 21 We Felt We Were British: The Imperial War Effort (p. 227)
  • 22 A Disaster of the First Magnitude: Holding the Middle East, 1939-1941 (p. 239)
  • 23 Supreme Effort: Distractions, Chiefly French (p. 245)
  • 24 Britain's Broke: Anglo-American Exchanges, 1939-1941 (p. 258)
  • 25 A Shocking Tale: The Singapore Debacle, 1941-1942 (p. 270)
  • 26 The Dark Valley: Perils and Panic, 1942 (p. 280)
  • 27 A State of Ordered Anarchy: India, 1942-1943 (p. 290)
  • 28 The Wealth of India: Subversion and Famine, 1943-1945 (p. 300)
  • 29 The Flag Is Not Let Down: Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt (p. 307)
  • 30 Fraternal Association: America and the Future of the British Empire (p. 318)
  • 31 Your Lofty Principles: Gains and Losses, 1945 (p. 329)
  • Part 6 1945-1955
  • 32 Abiding Power: The Empire and the Cold War, 1946-1951 (p. 343)
  • 33 Splutter of Musketry: Small Wars, 1950-1951 (p. 356)
  • 34 A Falling from Power? Atom Bombs and Arabs, 1951-1955 (p. 362)
  • 35 The Third British Empire, 1951-1955 (p. 376)
  • Envoi (p. 387)
  • Bibliography (p. 391)
  • Notes (p. 409)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

There seems always to be more to say about this fascinating statesman. Author James (Raj) has produced a well-crafted study of Winston Churchill's lifelong commitment to maintain into the 20th century the empire so painstakingly created by his Victorian predecessors. The author details Churchill's various political and military adventures beginning with his postings in -Afghanistan and Africa and moving through his years as first lord of the admiralty during World War I and then his vigorous leadership of Britain during World War II. Churchill ended his second term as prime minister in 1955; by that time the devolution of the empire was under way, but he never lost his firm belief that these kinds of governments were a good thing for citizens and that the mother country often knew best. The Victorian world that shaped Churchill's views, however, was long gone. VERDICT James helps flesh out this aspect of Churchill's life and thought, making his well-written book complementary to existing studies. It should appeal to anyone interested in Churchill and 20th-century British history.-Ed Goedeken, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publishers Weekly Review

James (The Rise and Fall of the British Empire) offers a fresh, welcome perspective on the exhaustively-analyzed Churchill by focusing narrowly here on his "ardent and unswerving faith in the British Empire." Throughout his long life, Churchill paternalistically and blindly believed that white Anglo-Saxon Britain was preordained to humanely rule an empire consisting predominantly of backward peoples who could not rule themselves. For him Britain was a civilizing force, war was an unavoidable outcome of imperialism, and the subjugation of India and maritime supremacy made Britain a global superpower. As a young officer at the Battle of Omdurman, Churchill reveled in the romance of a cavalry charge but was dismayed by Britain's slaughter of wounded Dervishes. As James points out, Churchill's passion for empire fostered interventionist impulses. Similarly, his unyielding support of WWI's disastrous Gallipoli campaign was rooted in his belief that the Turks' proclamation of jihad irreparably threatened Britain's prestige in South Asia and the Arab world. The WWII surrender of Singapore dealt a death blow to Churchill's empire; and ironically, the supremacy of America-Britain's partner in the "special relationship" nurtured by Churchill-eclipsed the British Empire as Nazi imperialism never did. James's complex, engrossing, and multifaceted portrait sheds new light on a flawed but brilliant man. Photos. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

CHOICE Review

British journalist James usefully demonstrates that Churchill's devotion to the British Empire is central to understanding him as a statesman and a strategist. The author traces the influence of imperial issues through every stage of Churchill's military and political careers, from the Victorian "little wars" in India and the Sudan to maintaining Britain's importance in the postwar world, showing how firmly embedded the cares of empire were in his thoughts and actions. James's account presents the practical struggles of a statesman acting within the context of a country with a political heritage devoted to individual liberty, but which is also an imperial power. Such a work is difficult to write today; scholars usually reject Churchill's view of the British Empire as an essentially beneficent and civilizing force as self-serving hypocrisy. But James does not superficially endorse this view. Careful readers will find an account that reveals genuineness to the dilemma he faced: whether the process of bringing civilization to those who lacked it was compatible with their coercion. --Justin D. Lyons, Ashland University

Booklist Review

James, author of several titles about the British Empire, here examines its exuberant exponent, Winston Churchill. Had he never been prime minister, Churchill would still have etched his name into imperial history in offices he held up to the 1920s. Predating his political career, his belief in the empire grew from a conviction that it was a positive moral force for progressive civilization. But as James suggests in narratives of Churchill's decisions about South Africa, Ireland, the Middle East, and India, the empire's moral mission was difficult to square with the coercion occasionally required to sustain it. One way Churchill tried, James reports, was to extol ties of law, language, and trade, which to a degree did bind the empire. But in the wider world of competing and warring empires, as James depicts WWI and WWII, the eclipse of the home country's power, symbolized by the 1942 fall of Singapore, induced dominions and colonies to distance themselves or depart altogether from the empire. Eschewing the interminable argument about the vice or virtue of empire, James provides an interesting perspective on Churchill's biography.--Taylor, Gilbert Copyright 2010 Booklist

Kirkus Book Review

An intriguing new look into both imperialism and a fascinating historical figure.Prolific historian James (Aristocrats: Power, Grace and DecadenceBritain's Great Ruling Classes from 1066 to the Present, 2009, etc.) homes in on the tumultuous years between 1898 and 1955the span of time in which Winston Churchill (1874-1965) started as a staff officer and finished his last day of his second term on Downing Street. The author filters a vast amount of information into a brisk narrative of volatile geopolitics, and he punctuates it with anecdotes and personal moments from Churchill's life. While examining the Dardanelles campaign, James pauses to consider Churchill's nightly routine, "during which, fuelled by champagne and brandy, he expounded his views on the war and his vital part in its direction." Just as the histories of the colonies are enlivened by Churchill's quick wit and powerful persona, the motivations behind his political agendas and battle strategies take on interesting new dimensions through this colonial lens. James eschews a traditional biography, referencing Churchill's upbringing and past only when necessary. What he does highlight is the man's antiquated belief in "empires as the engines of progress that were adding to the sum of human happiness." James deftly sprints through the long list of battles during Churchill's career, focusing particularly on his struggles in Palestine, India and the complex aftermath of both world wars, when he found himself "trapped between his instinctive urge to hammer the enemies of the Empire into submission and the need to uphold its moral character." This results in a book that is more analytic than informative, more likely to question grand notions of liberty and duty than to inform readers on the basics of the two historical forces in its title.Exciting but very specific, this work will appeal most to those already knowledgeable about the subjects and looking for fresh insights. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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