British Scholar: Jenkins

Churchill: A Biography
Roy Jenkins (New York: Plume, 2002), 1001 pages

The task of portraying the life of Churchill, a complicated and great man, causes any formidable
biographer to tremble. The sheer number of studies already conducted about the life and times of
Churchill make it difficult to find any new ground. Roy Jenkins, in his precisely written and excessively
detailed biography, finds little original material but does provide a solid and accessible life and times of
his subject for anyone to follow.

One of the most compelling aspects of the book centers on Jenkins’ treatment of critical personal and
professional relationships for Churchill. The interaction between Churchill and Lloyd George epitomizes
interesting reading considering that, according to Jenkins, “they were the two British politicians of
genius…in the first half of the twentieth century.” For these two great men to experience such a close
bond finds justification, perhaps, in the fact that Lloyd George stands, at least overtly, as the only
politician Churchill ever enjoyed being subservient to. Clementine’s attitude toward Lloyd George
makes this fact all the more remarkable. In one letter to Winston, Clementine provided advice regarding
her husband’s superior: “I don’t trust him one bit, fair of speech, shifty of eye, treacherous of heart.”
This rebuke, however, did not taint Churchill’s view of his ally and ideological soul mate. Despite a
sometimes rocky relationship, both of these extraordinary MPs never lost the natural affinity for one
another rarely attributed to politicians. Jenkins’ biography contextualizes this dynamic connection so
that readers unfamiliar with either man can fully appreciate their camaraderie.

Like many predecessors, Jenkins discovers in Churchill “the greatest human being ever to occupy 10
Downing Street.” The depth of his analysis on Churchill, which includes extensive detail about his
prolific writing and surprisingly good artistic abilities, provides ample substantiation for the assertion
made above. Churchill, despite his many shortcomings, remains a fascinating personality to study.
Jenkins’ portrayal does this great man justice and should be read, in all of its laborious detail, by anyone
interested in Churchill.