April 25, 2015

Finest Hour 119, Summer 2003

Page 44

By David Freeman

Man of the Century: Winston Churchill and his Legend Since 1945, by John Ramsden. Harper Collins, 652 pp., £25. U.S. edition in October at lower prices; orders taken.

If you enjoy the Finest Hour book section, this book is a must: a tour d’horizon of all things Churchill by the dean of Conservative Party historians. Only John Ramsden with his encyclopedic knowledge of twentieth-century British politics (he edited the standard work on the subject) could have produced this magnificent work. Bulging with little known facts and thoughtful insights, it will keep anyone with an interest in Churchill transfixed for hours.

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Mountains of recent Churchill books travel well-trod ground; Ramsden shows that there are still unknown facets to the never-ending saga. He set out to examine how Churchill fashioned his own legend, and how that image has played out and been transformed over time. The survey, however, includes so much Churchill trivia that enthusiasts will be absorbed by the scenery alone.

The book begins with Churchill’s “GDE” (Greatest Dying Englishman) period, his death and funeral, and then works back to chronicle the earlier “GLE” (Greatest Living Englishman) era. Indeed, as Ramsden notes, these very terms were used without need for explanation, just as Victorians referred to Gladstone as the GOM (Grand Old Man).

Important to the shaping of the Churchill image is the fact that the GLE continued to function as an active politician long after his reputation was “made” in the stern days of 1940-41. This enabled Churchill to shape international debate even as Opposition Leader, as he did at Fulton and Zurich after the war. At the same time, he was receiving numerous awards and honors. How Churchill dealt with the accolades in itself contributed to his image. The story of the day the living legend came to receive in person the freedom of a city would itself be added to the legend. Sometimes, long-lived controversies resulted in instances where the intention to present an award was badly handled and the honor refused. Ramsden memorably illustrates all of this with case by case examples which are fascinating tales in and of themselves and may spark old memories in the minds of some readers.

The bulk of the book examines in turn Churchill’s reputation in the constituent nations of the predominantly English-speaking world, a fine point which itself gets explained. There is also a chapter about Churchill as the “father” of Europe. Thus, there is something to offer the personal interests of any Churchillian. In fact the Churchill Centre and Societies are thoroughly discussed and their history related, for they too play an important, modern-day role in shaping the public perception of the great man’s image. Ramsden does the Centre a great favor by distinguishing the fact that it does not “live to whitewash.” Attending his first international Churchill conference (virtually incognito), he was pleased to find that Churchillians were willing to listen to “some pretty tough papers” on the man they admire.

But the details, perhaps, more than the broad themes of the book really keep one absorbed. Ramsden’s prose is flawless, nary a split infinitive to be found. Have you ever wondered exactly why President Johnson did not attend Churchill’s funeral? The answer is here. Which cities granted Churchill their freedom? Which did he accept, and which did he accept in person? It is all here.

Ramsden also considers how the past century’s major British historians dealt with the Churchill image and what motivated each member of this disparate group. The works of popular biographers such as Robert Lewis Taylor and William Manchester receive due attention, alongside the more scholarly works including those of the revisionist schools.

Likewise the films, portraits, statues, schools, hospital wings, streets, parks and even natural geography that have served to commemorate the life of Churchill. The stories about the actors, artists, sculptors, and all manner of governing authorities involved in these tributes are told with objectivity and accuracy. If you want to know the whys and hows of Churchill’s image, you must read this book.