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The Boer War,
a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill
Candice Millard
Doubleday Books
Sept 20, 2016 / ISBN 9780385535748
History/South Africa/England/Biographies & Memoirs
Reviewed
by Rickard Morelli
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Candice
Millard's latest book, Hero of the Empire, is an engaging and
rousing tale of the young Winston Churchill and his exploits
during the bloody 1899 - 1900 Great Boer War between Great Britain
and South African Boers. This biographical narrative of Churchill
makes a strong case for how this conflict shaped his character
and significantly contributed to the "making of Winston
Churchill" as Britain's unshakable and confident leader
during World War II. The book centers on his capture by Boers
after a particular fierce fire fight and Churchill’s successful
escape and resulting freedom.
What I liked about the narrative was Millard's building a picture
of Churchill very much attuned to his aristocratic origins and
how his upbringing shaped his lifelong world outlook. Although
people are aware of Churchill as the steadfast leader during
WWII, the picture that Millard paints is one of a self-confident
25-year-old who was fearless under fire and had a strong sense
of destiny. Even at this young age, Churchill was adept at using
his aristocratic background and connections to get introductions
at high levels of government and further his ambitions. Already
a well-known writer, he secured a position as a highly paid
war correspondent to cover the Boer War for a London daily.
As a POW, Churchill tirelessly wrote letters to secure his release,
citing his status as a war correspondent and celebrity POW while
actively planning an escape.
One of the more interesting aspects of this book for me was
how Churchill was compelled to depend on and trust sympathetic
strangers to ensure his safe evasion from the Boers. This was
a new experience as he struggled with a desire to instinctively
take charge and evade capture by using his own wits. Truly an
enjoyable and informative book for devotees of Winston Churchill. |
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