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Shop nowThe Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Vol. 3
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Learn moreSpanning the years 1940 to 1965, Defender of the Realm, the third volume of William Manchester’s The Last Lion, picks up shortly after Winston Churchill became prime minister—when his tiny island nation stood alone against the overwhelming might of Nazi Germany. The Churchill portrayed by Manchester and Reid is a man of indomitable courage, lightning-fast intellect, and an irresistible will to action. This volume brilliantly recounts how Churchill organized his nation’s military response and defense, compelled President Roosevelt to support America’s beleaguered cousins, and personified the “never surrender” ethos that helped the Allies win the war, while at the same time adapting himself and his country to the inevitable shift of world power from the British Empire to the United States.
More than twenty years in the making, The Last Lion presents a revelatory and unparalleled portrait of this brilliant, flawed, and dynamic leader. This is popular history at its most stirring.
William Manchester (1922–2004) was an award-winning American author, biographer, historian, and a professor emeritus of history at Wesleyan University. He was awarded the National Humanities Medal and the Abraham Lincoln Literary Award. Among his many New York Times bestselling books are two which made the #1 spot on the list: The Death of a President and The Last Lion: Alone.
Paul Reid is an award-winning journalist and a former feature writer for Cox Newspapers. In late 2003 his friend, William Manchester, in failing health, asked him to complete The Last Lion: Defender of the Realm. He lives in North Carolina.
Clive Chafer is a professional actor, director, producer, and theater instructor. Originally from England and educated at Leeds and Exeter universities, he has performed and directed at many theaters in the San Francisco area, where he makes his home, and elsewhere in the US. In 1993 he founded TheatreFIRST, Oakland’s professional theater company, where he served as artistic director until 2008.
Reviews
“Magnificently delineated…The story of Churchill and Britain in the Second World War…is vividly evoked by Manchester and Reid.”
“The long-delayed majestic account of Winston Churchill’s last twenty-five years is worth the wait.”
“Clive Chafer’s presentation is outstanding, with his mellow British accent remaining authentic and easy on the ear throughout. Pacing is everything in a book of this length, and Chafer’s perfect tempo moves the text briskly along while allowing listeners to absorb the riveting details. He employs the lightest touch with pace and tone to indicate shifts from narrative to quoted material. This pairing of gifted authors and expert narrator turns an initially intimidating audiobook into that perfect choice for a long winter’s listen. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
“Churchill was the greatest man of the last century, and this is the greatest biography of him.”
“The final volume is…majestic and inspiring.”
“A must-read finale.”
“This book is superb. It has tremendous pace, rich detail, and immense drama.”
“Brilliant and beautiful, evocative.”
“Masterful…[with] the detailed research, sharp analysis, and sparkling prose that readers of the first two volumes have come to expect.”
“Masters the details and sweep of an extraordinary story.”
“This is surely the best installment of the [series]…a winning, full-blooded biography.”
“Churchill is revealed, warts and all, as a complex man…The great majority of this volume is devoted to the war, which most will agree encompassed Churchill’s finest hours… Manchester’s magnum opus.”
“Discover the steadfast courage and military brilliance of Winston Churchill…when he alone faced the threat of Nazi Germany.”
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