“History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.” — Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Churchill is a historical figure who certainly was larger than life. The impact his life made on the last century is far-reaching. Churchill managed to capture much of this through his own writings, and there are numerous fascinating biographies that explore his long life, as well. The nonfiction connected to Churchill’s life is quite fascinating and can provide hours of good reading. For people who are more drawn to fiction, though, it’s worth noting that his life and role in history have inspired quite a few tales of fiction. Here are few of those books which you can check out from the library:
If you tend to generally stick with nonfiction, you may want to try “Winston’s War: A Novel of Conspiracy” by Michael Dobbs. This book is truly historical fiction — telling the story of real events from a fictional perspective. Churchill, an outcast from the British government during the 1930s, warned of the impending troubles of Hitler’s Nazi regime. Dobbs’ book offers a fictionalized look at how various figures in England during that time, including Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, King George VI, US Ambassador Joseph Kennedy and the BBC’s Guy Burgess, responded to Churchill’s warnings. Dobbs’ story is ultimately fiction, but it offers a lot of insight into why the real events played out the way they did.
If you like a little espionage with your historical fiction, you will want to check out “The Eagle Has Landed” by Jack Higgins. Churchill is not so much a character in this book as he is the focal point for the action that fills this fast-paced thriller. It’s 1943 and World War II is in full swing when Hitler orders England’s Prime Minister to be kidnapped or assassinated. The story follows a group of German soldiers through their attempt to infiltrate British soil and follow through on the fuhrer’s orders.
If you want to escape into something a little lighter, try Susan Elia Macneal’s “Mr. Churchill’s Secretary.” This mystery is set during the Blitz and follows Maggie Hope who has just been hired as one of the prime minister’s secretaries. Maggie soon finds herself embroiled in double agents, espionage, German codes and assassination plots. This is the first in a series for fans of mysteries from this era.
Finally, if you want something with a bit of whimsy, you might try Rebecca Hunt’s “Mr. Chartwell.” In his real 
life, Churchill battled depression, going so far as to name it his “black dog.” Hunt’s book is an imaginative look into Churchill’s chronic depression, personified as Mr. Chartwell, and it captures the suffering the disease caused him. The story follows an 89-year-old Churchill and a young librarian who finds herself introduced to the dangerous Mr. Chartwell. The story offers a touching, and occasionally humorous, look at the struggle to overcome a disabling disease.
Happy reading!
