It took me a lot longer to get into this book than the others by Larson that I have read. With Devil in the White City I was enthralled by both the World's Fair and Holmes stories. The way they were intertwined and one allowed the other to really happen was mesmerizing. Maybe it is just me, but I have so little interest in war that it took me a while to get into this. I never thought I was interested in Churchill. At some point, about 1/3 in, I realized I suddenly was interested. That is the genius of Erik Larson. He sucks you in to stories and subjects you didn't know you wanted to read.

This is NOT the same review I will post online; that one will be longer. I will update this with a link to that longer one when it is written
It's said there's no such thing as a short Churchill book, at least not a good one. This book is certainly long and thus not for the faint of heart.
While I've found past Larson books to be a nice overview with some depth on an event, this one (as it states to be it's purpose) certainly focuses on Churchill AND the Blitz, and I only wish there could have been more on the Blitz alone.
As it stands, I likely won't be recommending this book to Churchill enthusiasts as my store, but I'll likely offer it to those interested in WWII, biographies generally, and of course anyone who likes Erik Larson.

This is an inspiring account of Winston Churchill’s first year at Prime Minister as he leads Britain through the blitz, loss of ships, rationing, battle losses, and the persistent fear of German invasion. Churchill himself admits that his whole life lead up to this moment in time. In his ever-tenacious manner, he pushes Parliament, the French, the Americans and his own armament manufactures and thumbs his nose at Hitler who, for the life of him, cannot understand why Britain will not surrender. Author Erik Larson, author of In the Garden of Beasts and The Devil in the White City, did a brilliant job of intertwining the political animal and personal idiosyncrasies of Churchill.

A portrait of a paragon of courage and resolve with poignant moments and political intrigue. Larson's decision to present the first year of Churchill's term as prime minister is brilliant. We get glimpses behind the curtain using Churchill's own words as well as diaries from those around him like secretary Coville and daughter Mary. Clementine is also there in all her glory. London and Berlin are frequently juxtaposed next to each other in alternating chapters in the narrative. In hindsight we can see more clearly the blunders made on both sides, but especially those of the Germans as the tide was turning when Hitler decided to take a break from battering Britain and use the Luftwaffe to invade Russia. The statistics are staggering: . In the midst of it all we read a quote from Coville's private papers during a Sunday night bombing raid: "It was magnificent and terrible: the spasmodic drone of enemy aircraft overhead; the thunder of gunfire, sometimes close sometimes in the distance; the illumination, like that of electric trains in peace-time, as the guns fired; and the myriad stars, real and artificial, in the firmament. Never was there such a contrast of natural splendor and human vileness." And thence comes the magnificent title for this new release from Erik Larson.

Thank you to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a stunning portrait of Winston Churchill and his quirky but oh so effective leadership during a crucible in British history. Once again Erik Larson has given us an historical narrative rich in detail based on his thorough research. Yet what sets Larson apart is his skill and craft which allows him to take his readers beyond the research so that we can be in the moments and events -- to see what and how things happened as they happend and to feel the tension, anxiety, humor, and drive. This is a study in amazing leadership when Churchill, by force of will, instilled in the British people the strength and courage to face the unthinkable -- the blitzkrieg with all its terror and destruction -- forging the nation into an unbeatable force. His total commitment to rallying the national with mostly honest assessments of the peril at hand yet rallying them to fight on in any way they can played a significant role in the eventual defeat of the Nazis -- of evil. Perhaps it is this battle against good and evil at a time of great danger to democracy that makes this story even more compelling. today We have no Churchill for our times and so the contrast stands out starkly and poignantly. This is a masterfully writer and inspiring story told by a master historian and writing. .

One would think there’s enough Churchillian scholarship out there but this excellent fly-on-the-wall view of his first year as Prime Minister proves otherwise. (Also included are chapters on Hitler et al., a final chapter on America’s entry into the war, and an Epilogue covering the major players.) Larson turns what could be boring into a page turner that gives a real sense of Churchill and those around him. Highly recommended.

"On Winston Churchill’s first day as prime minister, Adolf Hitler invaded Holland and Belgium. Poland and Czechoslovakia had already fallen, and the Dunkirk evacuation was just two weeks away. For the next twelve months, Hitler would wage a relentless bombing campaign, killing 45,000 Britons. It was up to Churchill to hold his country together and persuade President Franklin Roosevelt that Britain was a worthy ally - and willing to fight to the end.

In The Splendid and the Vile, Erik Larson shows, in cinematic detail, how Churchill taught the British people “the art of being fearless.” It is a story of political brinkmanship, but it’s also an intimate domestic drama, set against the backdrop of Churchill’s prime-ministerial country home, Chequers; his wartime retreat, Ditchley, where he and his entourage go when the moon is brightest and the bombing threat is highest; and of course 10 Downing Street in London. Drawing on diaries, original archival documents, and once-secret intelligence reports - some released only recently - Larson provides a new lens on London’s darkest year through the day-to-day experience of Churchill and his family: his wife, Clementine; their youngest daughter, Mary, who chafes against her parents’ wartime protectiveness; their son, Randolph, and his beautiful, unhappy wife, Pamela; Pamela’s illicit lover, a dashing American emissary; and the advisers in Churchill’s “Secret Circle,” to whom he turns in the hardest moments.

The Splendid and the Vile takes readers out of today’s political dysfunction and back to a time of true leadership, when, in the face of unrelenting horror, Churchill’s eloquence, courage, and perseverance bound a country, and a family, together."

But of course what follows the period after WWI? WWII!

Erik Larson is well-known for his historical books, for they are extremely well-written and almost read like fiction. This book is no exception. Churchill's role in World War II is covered extensively. This book would be great for an in-depth study of Great Britain's role in World War II, and I highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I went into this with such high hopes... I've loved many of Larson's previous books - he has a distinct talent for writing non - fiction that reads like fiction. He's a marvelous storyteller and a detailed researcher - unfortunately, in this one, I think he over - emphasized the latter at the expense of the former. There is a ton of detail about what people wore, furnishings in their rooms, and genealogy and family relationships. And I felt like it was presented in minute detail, when what I really wanted was the focus on the Blitz that the description promised. It made the story a much tougher and slower read than I expected - there was never a moment when this one felt like fiction to me... Perhaps that's where my issue comes in the most - I wanted a narrative ala Devil in the White City or In the Garden of Beasts, but felt more like I was reading assigned classroom reading... Larson is a great writer, so it was still interesting - but not engaging in the way I hoped it would be.

Splendid – that’s an accurate description of "The Splendid and the Vile" by Erik Larson. It is fabulous read. The book covers Winston Churchill’s first year as Prime Minister at the start of World War II. It is a wonderfully researched and executed rendition of a terrifying and heartbreaking time when Britain becomes the sole country battling Nazi Germany. Larson uses primary sources in innovative and effective ways to cover Churchill and historic events using typical resources as well as Churchill’s daughter Mary’s diary, diaries of ordinary people, and even German sources, thus giving almost a 360-degree view of extraordinary times. "Splendid" provides personal insight into Churchill and his group but also the British people who lived and carried on despite the brutal and sometimes constant bombardment by the Nazis. Even though we might think we know the story and the ending, Larson actually imbues the book with suspense and drama. It is a story of true leadership, and courage and hope. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.

Erik Larson has done it again! There is no other way to start a discussion of Larson's (Dead Wake) newest book: The Splendid and the Vile. This is the story of Churchill and his family in his first year as prime minister as Hitler not only takes over swathes of Europe, but also begins bombing England in what would become known as the Blitz.

Not solely a military or political history, Splendid seeks to answer the question: what was it like for people living through the Blitz? How did Churchill's family balance politics and personal lives? Using personal diaries and archival documents, Larson is able to tell these stories using the words of people like Mary Churchill, Winston's youngest daughter; Pamela Churchill, his unhappy daughter-in-law; and John Colville, one of his personal secretaries. Their loves and losses show attempts to carry on normal lives while also dealing with bombings that often came quite close to killing them. Although I hadn't really thought about it before reading Splendid, I knew very little about Churchill's family and quickly became fascinated to learn about them and their experiences. I found myself asking the book (in the middle of tense military action when I hadn't heard from the family in awhile) "but how is Pamela coping? Is Mary really going to marry that guy? What the heck is Randolph thinking?" every bit as anxiously as I found myself worrying over where the next bomb would fall.

Larson's eye for detail and talent for descriptions create a cinematic effect: the reader can see the moonlit countryside from the view of a Luftwaffe pilot, smell the cordite and taste the dust and grit of bombed out buildings. This should appeal to the casual reader every bit as much as the history devotee.

My favorite histories are ones that look at the day-to-day experience of regular people as well as the movers and shakers. Thanks to extensive diaries kept by people across England, those details are available to us and Larson uses these diaries every bit as much as the diaries of Churchill's private secretaries. Because of this, as well as Larson's excellent writing style, readers will be drawn in from page one and held, enthralled, until the very end.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Erik Larson is the author of many successful history books, including 'Dead Wake', ' In The Garden Of The Beasts' and 'The Devil In The White City'. His newest book covers the first year of World War II and the Nazi bombing campaign that would kill 45,000 Britons. The author details Churchill's leadership as well as his family life. The need to keep up the moral of the citizens as well as the fervent need for help from the USA is also documented. Larson's writing is entertaining as well as being educational...definitely a win-win.

I have read many books by Erik Larson and love his writing style. He writes nonfiction like he's telling a story, so I was excited to get an early copy of The Splendid and the Vile. While I've read many historical fiction books set during the war, this was my first biography. The description of Churchill, his family, and his "entourage" of assistants and bodyguards was engaging and even humorous at times. It gave me a better picture of this fascinating man that made such a difference to the war and England itself.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Erik Larson did it AGAIN--another fabulous narrative nonfiction about one of the darkest times in history. This book read like a suspense novel even though it is nonfiction. Reading this gave me a new appreciation for and insight into Winston Churchill and the battles he fought to keep England safe. Excellent, must-read for anyone interested in the human experience in history.

Wow. Larson takes us to 1940s London with gorgeous detail and humanizes Churchill the legend in a way I'd not read before.
His meticulous research shows on every single page, and even though I knew the outcome of WWII, I could not put this down.

You really have to be interested in the life of Winston Churchill to read this book, it is an in depth look at the part he played in the war, as well as an in depth look into his personal life.

Unfortunately, at times, when the book dove into his personal life, I found my mind wandering.
But this is no fault of the author who is undoubtedly one the greatest non-fiction writers, and if you want to read book about a certain person, or about a specific event, you want it to be a book by Erik Larson.

Here's the thing: I am mildly obsessed with WWII fiction and The Crown, so when Erik Larson (who is the gold standard when it comes to nonfiction that read like fiction) writes a book about Winston Churchill and WWII, I am in, even though the book is a massive 600-page haul! It took me some time and it was an investment read, but all-in-all it was worth my time and effort. I can see this book being very popular with book clubs and readers who have mild obsessions like me.

Erik Larson is one of my favorite non-fiction writers. He has a way with non-fiction writing that reads like fiction, which is a special skill. The writing in this is no different. However, this one didn’t knock it out of the park for me. Possibly because of the subject matter, I didn’t find myself as engaged as his other books. I also had very high expectations. Still, the writing is great and a lot of interesting facts in here.

Erik Larson is a nonfiction narrative master. His research and coverage of Churchill and associates was astounding. I’m at the point that I’ll read anything he writes even if the topic doesn’t necessarily interest me - simply because his writing and research is that good. And, I’m usually fascinated with the topic by the time I’m done with the book.

I’ve read several books by Eric Larson—he’s a writer who doesn’t disappoint, and “The Splendid and the Vile” is no exception. Set roughly over the one year period between the time Winston Churchill became prime minister of Great Britain in May 1940 and the end of the London Blitz in May 1941, Larson’s account takes the reader inside Churchill’s cabinet—and his private life—through letters, memoirs and diary excerpts from Churchill, his wife Clementine, daughter Mary and daughter-in-law Pamela as well as the various ministers and private secretaries—even King George VI—who witnessed this tumultuous period of World War II. Larson follows the events of the year chronologically, detailing Lord Beaverbrook’s efforts to increase Britain’s aircraft production; meetings between Churchill and France’s leadership as the situation in France grew ever more grim; Dunkirk; the Battle of Britain and the London Blitz; and Churchill’s numerous requests to Franklin Roosevelt for American military aid. He also provides the German perspective, combing through letters and diaries from Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels, Luftwaffe Chief Hermann Göring and German ace Adolph Galland to illuminate German attempts to subdue Britain. Scattered throughout are excerpts from the Mass-Observation diaries of ordinary Londoners and Larson’s own sharp observations, which for me really elevated this book and set it apart from other accounts I’ve read. Here’s Larson describing the morning after one of the first big raids: “For Londoners, it was a night of first experiences and sensations. The smell of cordite after a detonation. The sound of glass being swept into piles.” And a diary passage typical of the many fascinating accounts: “It’s not the bombs I’m scared of any more, it’s the weariness,” wrote a female civil servant in her Mass-Observation diary—“trying to work and concentrate with your eyes sticking out of your head like hat-pins, after being up all night. I’d die in my sleep, happily, if only I could sleep.” This is not an exhaustive military history or a Churchill biography—there are already plenty of those. But if you want a fly-on-the-wall look at Churchill’s first year as prime minister from all sorts of perspectives, “The Splendid and the Vile” is a fascinating must read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown/Random House for providing me with an ARC of this title in return for my honest review.