“Never was there such a contrast of natural splendor and human vileness.”
Winston Churchill is a fascinating character. As England’s leader during one of the darkest times in its history, he managed to evoke a sense of meaning and courage in his people. The Splendid and The Vile takes a close look at Churchill’s first year in power, which included the Blitz of London, fearing a land attack by Germany and trying to get America to help their war effort. Personal life didn’t stop because of the war and Churchill’s son faced divorce and one of his daughters fell in love. Each and every day was full.
I have enjoyed several Erik Larson books and The Splendid and The Vile is the newest one. His books usually combine a journalist’s eye for details along with a great storytelling ability to make non-fiction topics come to life. I’ve read Thunderstruck about radio waves and Dead Wake about the Lusitania by Larson.
The Splendid and The Vile is very detailed in describing what happens with Churchill and the characters around him during his first year as prime minister. By giving details about the people who surrounded Churchill, Larson gives a complete, but complicated picture.
Readers who love history will enjoy this up close biography of Churchill. However, the book felt long at points to me as it tried to give a very detailed picture of what was happening. Although, living during the bombings on London would have felt like a long time. It’s still hard to imagine sometimes that a major city was bombed night after night for more than a year.
Do you enjoy history and biographies? Share your favorite in the comments.