Churchill Conversation with Author & Historian Katherine Carter

Katherine Carter is a best-selling author and curator of Chartwell. She will discuss her recent book, Churchill’s Citadel.

This National Churchill Leadership Center event is being held live online on Tuesday, 29 April 2025.

4:00 PM EDT Washington
1:00 PM PST Los Angeles/Vancouver
9:00 PM BST London

A major new history of Churchill in the 1930s, showing how his meetings at Chartwell, his country home, strengthened his fight against the Nazis

In the 1930s, amidst an impending crisis in Europe, Winston Churchill found himself out of government and with little power. In these years, Chartwell, his country home in Kent, became the headquarters of his campaign against Nazi Germany. He invited trusted advisors and informants, including Albert Einstein and T. E. Lawrence, who could strengthen his hand as he worked tirelessly to sound the alarm at the prospect of war.

Katherine Carter tells the extraordinary story of the remarkable but little known meetings that took place behind closed doors at Chartwell. From household names to political leaders, diplomats to spies, Carter reveals a fascinating cast of characters, each of whom made their mark on Churchill’s thinking and political strategy. With Chartwell as his base, Churchill gathered intelligence about Germany’s preparations for war–and, in doing so, put himself in a position to change the course of history.

About the Author

Katherine Carter is a Curator and Historian specialising in early 20th century British political history and has managed the house and collections at Chartwell for more than a decade. As Curator, she is responsible for the research, conservation, presentation and interpretation of the Churchill family’s home, which typically welcomes more than 250,000 visitors annually.

Katherine advises organisations and institutions around the world on the life and legacy of Winston Churchill and frequently appears in print and broadcast media. She is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and speaks on the subject of Winston Churchill internationally.

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