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Hero of the Empire
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
 

 

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.
Reviewed 2016
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