Artillery of Words : The Writings of Sir Winston Churchill

During his long lifetime, Sir Winston Churchill wrote 50 books and more than 800 feature articles. He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953. This book, by the author of "Young Winston's Wars" and "Bibliography of the Works of Sir Winston Churchill", combines literary criticism with a consideration of the writings in the context of Churchill's public life. Almost all Churchill's publications, argues Frederick Woods, were weapons written deliberately to win a battle, whether that battle was over the future of India, the fate of the freedom-loving world, the rehabilitation of renowned ancestors, or his own fluctuating reputation. In every case, Churchill strove mightily to win, and often presented his case with less than the objectivity that might be expected of one popularly considered to be a major historian. During his long lifetime, Sir Winston Churchill wrote fifty books and over 800 feature articles. He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953. Remarkably, until now no serious study has been made of this voluminous and prestigious output. Frederick Woods, an internationally acknowledged expert in the field of Churchillian writings, here presents the first full-length appraisal, not only as a matter of literary criticism, but also considering the writings in the context of Churchill's public life. Almost all Churchill's publications, argues Mr Woods, were weapons written deliberately to win a battle, whether that battle was over the future of India, the fate of the freedom-loving world, the rehabilitation of renowned ancestors, or his own fluctuating reputation. In every case Churchill strove mightily to win, and often presented his case with less than the objectivity of one popularly considered to be a major historian. Artillery of Words is not only an illuminating and often witty analysis of Churchill's writings; it is also an important and revealing contribution to Churchillian studies in general. Mr Woods's Bibliography of the Works of Sir Winston Churchill, first published in 1963, has been described by Churchill's official biographer, Martin Gilbert, as revealing 'a mastery both of research and presentation'. This new book possesses the same qualities. An analysis of the writings of the iconic twentieth-century statesman from the author of Young Winston's Wars. Only a part-time author, Sir Winston Churchill wrote fifty books and over eight hundred feature articles. He even received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953. Now, Frederick Woods, an internationally acknowledged expert in the field of Churchillian writings, presents a full-length appraisal of Churchill's literary output, while putting the writings in the context of Churchill's public life. Churchill's words were weapons, argues Mr. Woods, written deliberately to win a battle, whether that battle was over the future of India, the fate of the freedom-loving world, the rehabilitation of renowned ancestors, or his own fluctuating reputation. In every case Churchill strove mightily to win, and often presented his case with less objectivity than that expected of one popularly considered to be a major historian. Artillery of Words is not only an illuminating and often witty analysis of Churchill's writings; it is also an important and revealing contribution to Churchillian studies in general. Praise for Frederick Woods's A Bibliography of the Works of Sir Winston Churchill “[Reveals] a mastery of both research and presentation.” —Martin Gilbert, bestselling author of Churchill: A Life