This article originally appeared in British
Weekly.
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Winston Churchill Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat: the
Great Speeches SANTA MONICA, CA (British Weekly) 12/28/07 - "I've always been a great admirer of Sir Winston Churchill, admirer of his career, admirer of his strength, admirer of his character, so much so that I keep a stern-looking bust of Sir Winston in the Oval Office; he watches my every move," said President George W. Bush in 2004. Tony Blair loaned the Churchill bust from the Government Art Collection for the duration of Bush’s term of office. None of this is mentioned in the book, Winston Churchill Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat: the Great Speeches, but shows Churchill is still relevant today. |
Churchill poured his heart into his speeches and it shows. He would start out speaking hesitantly and his voice would get stronger and more confident as he spoke. Churchill honed the craft of writing his speeches to a fine art. He had an assistant who had to be available to write his speeches day and night. After Churchill had the first draft written, he’d rewrite it. Dictating to assistants, Churchill said, "History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it."
"He took care to weigh well and balance every word he utters" said Arthur Balfour, who was Prime Minister from 1902 to 1905. Churchill lived to be 90. Winston Churchill stood in the presence of Queen Victoria, who ascended the throne in 1837. He was the Prime Minister to Elizabeth II, who reigns today. He helped abolish sweat shops. He gave coal miners an eight-hour day. He helped draw boundaries that are still on the map of the Middle East. And, he helped save England it its darkest hour.
David Cannadine is a British historian known for a number of books including In Churchill's Shadow: Confronting the Past in Modern Britain (2002). He’s a Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Professor of British History at the Institute of Historical Research University of London. He’s married to Princeton historian Linda Colley, who writes for The Guardian.
Winston Churchill Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat: the Great
Speeches, Trade Paperback 355 pages. Publisher: Penguin Classic
(December 18, 2007). Language: English. ISBN- 9780141442068 $19.95