Book Review
The Great Republic: A History of America
Few really grasp the importance of Winston Churchill’s incredible relationship with the United States. A recent compilation of his most essential writings about America fills this void.
by John Ross Schroeder
It is not generally known that Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965) possessed
considerable American credentials. The 102 passengers on the famous Mayflower
(1620) included not one but three ancestors on his maternal side. They were
among the 53 pioneers who survived that harrowing first winter in New England.
His mother, Jenny Jerome Churchill, was an American. (The beginning of this
book includes a two-page Mayflower genealogy of his family.)
Churchill fondly referred to America as "the Great Republic." He undertook 15 visits to the United States over a period of 65 years, including one extended lecture tour. He even surveyed several Civil War battlefields as part of the research for one of his history books.
His grandson, Winston S. Churchill (editor of The Great Republic, 1999, 2002, Cassell & Co., London) wrote: "Churchill’s love of America endured throughout his lifetime, until by the chance of history, it fell to him to provide the leadership at a critical juncture in the greatest war in history (World War II), that crucially enabled Britain to hold out, though the rest of Europe had fallen under the Nazi jackboot, until in the fullness of time the United States was able to join the conflict" (p. xiii).
In writing about America and Britain in 1936, Churchill referred to "our common duty to the human race" and that Anglo-American unity "might well notably influence the destiny of the world." Today, even though under great pressure, that unity continues.
On Abraham Lincoln
In this book Sir Winston’s assessment of Abraham Lincoln is one of the most insightful looks into this president’s character ever written. Both men assumed critical leadership roles in periods of great national crisis.
Read the full article at www.wnponline.org/wnp/wnp0308/bookreview.htm
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Table of Contents that includes "Book Review: The Great Republic: A History of America"
Other Articles by John Ross Schroeder
Churchill, Winston:
- _First the End of an Empire - Now the End of Britain?
- _What Is True Leadership?
- _Catch the Disease of Optimism
- _What Is True Leadership?
- _A Heart Beyond the Hurt
- _Forgiving the Unforgivable
- _Two Minutes Dedicated to Eternity
- _Lincoln: President and Prophet?
- _Forgiving the Unforgivable
Key Subjects Index
General Topics Index
Biblical References Index
Good News Magazine Index
Booklets and All Literature Index
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