Their Finest Hour (1948)

Winston Churchill's six-volume history of the cataclysm that swept the world remains the definitive history of the Second World War. Lucid, dramatic, remarkable both for its breadth and sweep and for its sense of personal involvement, it is universally acknowledged as a magnificent reconstruction and is an enduring, compelling work that led to his being awarded the Nobel Prize for literature.

Their Finest Hour enthrallingly recounts key events and battles from May to December 1940 as Britain stood isolated while Nazi Germany pursued its seemingly unconquerable war path - the fall of France, Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain, the horrors of the Blitz and Hitler's plans to invade and crush Russia, his sole ally in Europe.

A narrator that does a great imitation of the great man. The history is well represented, from the faĺl of France to the blitzing of London and Great Britain, gives the listener a ring-side seat. ( )

Stirring stuff. The chapters on Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain especially so. The absolute master at politely and diplomatically telling people to get their motherfucking act in gear. I was surprised to learn the internal discussion of offering to merge with France into one nation. Another surprise was the telegram to FDR mentioning potentially letting Northern Ireland merge with Eire. ( )

Another fabulous entry in Churchill's series regarding World War II. This book roughly documents the year 1940 - the fall of France, the Battle of Britain and other activities during the year.

Churchill's grasp of the politics of the situation are breathtaking, the individual correspondence's between Churchill and FDR are amazing to read, as the finesse Churchill shows in documenting the case time and again to FDR that the U.S. must join Great Britain in their crusade against the Nazis, or face them alone if Great Britain should fall.

The strategic grasp Churchill demonstrates time and again of world events, and proper context is exciting to read. And this book is a great reminder that Great Britain for over a year held the tide of Nazi Germany at bay, and preceded to beat the Germans in the air, in Egypt, and at sea while absorbing a tremendous cost on their civilian population due to indiscriminate bombing.

Difficult to put down, fascinating in it's detail, this is a must read.

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