Best U.K. Prime Minister Biographies

Spanning the years 1940 to 1965, The Last Lion: Defender of the Realm begins shortly after Winston Churchill became prime minister—when Great Britain stood alone against the overwhelming might of Nazi Germany. In brilliant prose and informed by decades of research, William Manchester and Paul Reid recount how Churchill organized his nation’s military response and defense, convinced FDR to support the cause, and personified the “never surrender” ethos that helped win the war. The collaboration completes the Churchill portrait in a seamless manner, combining the detailed research, sharp analysis and sparkling prose that readers of the first two volumes have come to expect.” —Associated Press “Matches the outstanding quality of biographers such as Robert Caro and Edmund Morris, joining this elite bank of writers who devote their lives to one subject.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Breathtaking . *Starred Review* The second volume of the late Manchester’s Churchill biography (The Last Lion: Alone, 1988) left its audience in suspense with Churchill’s appointment as British prime minister in May 1940 and in anticipation of how Manchester would present Churchill’s and Britain’s finest hour in WWII.

Universally acclaimed for their compelling narrative, their fresh insights, and their objective renderings of Winston Churchill's life, THE LAST LION trilogy presents a revelatory and unparalleled portrait of this brilliant, flawed, and dynamic adventurer, aristocrat, soldier, and statesman. In late 2003 his friend, William Manchester, in failing health, asked Paul to complete The Last Lion: Defender of the Realm .

New York Times Bestseller - When Winston Churchill was born in Blenheim Palace in 1874, Imperial Britain stood at the splendid pinnacle of her power. From master biographer William Manchester, The Last Lion: Visions of Glory reveals the first fifty-eight years of the life of an adventurer, aristocrat, soldier, and statesman whose courageous leadership guided the destiny of his darkly troubled times—and who is remembered as one of the greatest figures of the twentieth century. one of those books you devour line by line and word by word and finally hate to see end.” —Russell Baker “Bedazzling.” — Newsweek “Manchester has read further, thought harder, and told with considerable verve what is mesmerizing in [Churchill’s] drama. The heroic Churchill is in these pages, but so is the little boy writing forlorn letters to the father who all but ignored him.” — People “Superb . Churchill and Manchester were clearly made for each other.” — Chicago Tribune “A vivid, thoroughly detailed biography of the Winston Churchill nobody knows.” — Boston Herald “Adds a grand dimension . one of those books you devour line by line and word by word and finally hate to see end.” —Russell Baker “Bedazzling.” — Newsweek “Manchester has read further, thought harder, and told with considerable verve what is mesmerizing in [Churchill’s] drama. The heroic Churchill is in these pages, but so is the little boy writing forlorn letters to the father who all but ignored him.” — People “Superb . [Manchester] pulls together the multitudinous facets of one of the richest lives ever to be chronicled. Churchill and Manchester were clearly made for each other.” — Chicago Tribune “A vivid, thoroughly detailed biography of the Winston Churchill nobody knows.” — Boston Herald “Adds a grand dimension .