Warlord: A Life of Winston Churchill at War, 1874-1945

By Carlo D’este
Harper Perennial, $15.99, 845 pages

Now available in paperback, Warlord, Carlo D’Este’s highly acclaimed biography of Winston Churchill, is well deserving of the praise heaped upon it. This riveting chronicle of the military side of Churchill’s life is fascinating and colorful, providing readers with a balanced view of the complex man who led Britain through its darkest moment in history.

D’Este, a proven author, military historian, and retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, makes ample use of printed and archival material to present an objective, vivid account of Churchill’s military successes and failures, his boyish obsession with the glamour of war, his impetuous recklessness, and his often-arrogant leadership style. D’Este traces Churchill’s evolution from headstrong student to adventurous journalist to fearless soldier, as well as from articulate statesman to influential leader. Warlord reveals an impatient man who failed to recognize his own weaknesses, as well as an optimist whose perseverance was unequaled. The result is a commanding history of a man who has been both loved and hated, honored and maligned.

Although the book suffers from occasionally sloppy copy editing and a somewhat poor index, Warlord is nonetheless a superbly enjoyable read. This fast-paced biography of Churchill is beautifully written, thoroughly researched, and highly memorable.

Reviewed by Kelli Christiansen