The Churchills by Mary S Lovell
The first Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722) was a soldier of such genius that a lavish palace, Blenheim, was built to honor his triumphs. Succeeding generations of Churchills sometimes achieved distinction but also included profligates and womanizers, and were saddled with the ruinous upkeep of Blenheim. The family fortunes were revived in the nineteenth century by the huge dowries of New York society beauties Jennie Jerome (Winston's mother) and Consuelo Vanderbilt (wife to Winston's cousin). Mary S. Lovell brilliantly recounts the triumphant political and military campaigns, the construction of great houses, the domestic tragedies, and the happy marriage of Winston to Clementine Hosier set against the disastrous unions of most of his family, which ended in venereal disease, papal annulment, clinical depression, and adultery. The Churchills were an extraordinary family: ambitious, impecunious, impulsive, brave, and arrogant. Winston-recently voted The Greatest Briton-dominates them all. His failures and triumphs are revealed in the context of a poignant and sometimes tragic private life.
Intelligent and well-written..Lovell weaves together all the anecdotes so seamlessly, and it's such fun to read. -- Wendy Smith - Los Angeles Times
Deliciously gossipy history of Britain's unofficial royals. -- Boston Sunday Globe
Famous lives ever fascinate, and does Lovell ever deliver. -- Gilbert Taylor - Booklist
An absorbing good read even for folks who don't typically indulge in history. -- Library Journal
This book is more a human story than plain history...[Lovell] has done an admirable job in weaving [the Churchills' stories] all together to create a splendid saga. -- Country Life
Deliciously gossipy history of Britain's unofficial royals. -- Boston Sunday Globe
Famous lives ever fascinate, and does Lovell ever deliver. -- Gilbert Taylor - Booklist
An absorbing good read even for folks who don't typically indulge in history. -- Library Journal
This book is more a human story than plain history...[Lovell] has done an admirable job in weaving [the Churchills' stories] all together to create a splendid saga. -- Country Life
Mary S. Lovell's best-selling biographies include Straight on Till Morning (Beryl Markham) and The Sisters (the Mitford family). She lives in England.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780393342253 |
| ISBN 10 | 0393342255 |
| Title | The Churchills |
| Author | Mary S Lovell |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | WW Norton & Co |
| Year published | 2012-05-22 |
| Number of pages | 672 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |