Churchill Documents - Volume 12 (ePub)

Volume 12 of The Churchill Documents tells Churchill's story from 1929 to 1935: the first five and a half of his "Wilderness Years." Compiled from one of the richest and most complete archives of modern British history, this volume chronicles both Churchill's political and personal life and the dramatic political scenes in which he played a part. Among the subjects covered in this volume are Churchill's long conflict with the Conservative Party over its India policy; his early awareness of the Nazi danger; his creation of an increasingly strong base of popular and parliamentary support; his astonishing literary and journalistic work; his travels in Canada, the United States, and Europe; his financial problems and achievements; and his family life.

In the writing of the official biography of Sir Winston Churchill, Randolph Churchill-and later Sir Martin Gilbert, who resumed the work following Randolph's death-had full access to Sir Winston's letters and papers, and also many hundreds of private archives. The work spans eight volumes, detailing Churchill's youth and early adventures in South Africa and India, his early career, and his more than fifty years on the world stage. No other statesman of modern times-or indeed of any age-has left such a wealth of personal letters, such a rich store of private and public documentation, and such vivid memories in the minds of those who worked closest to him. Through these materials, assembled over the course of more than twenty years, one is able to know Churchill in a way never before possible. Churchill's personal papers are so extensive that it was only possible to include in the narrative volumes a part of the relevant documents. The volumes titled The Churchill Documents run parallel with the narrative volumes, and with them form a whole. The letters, documents, and correspondence contained within are drawn from the Churchill Papers, now at Churchill College, Cambridge, and from many other archival sources, both private and public.