Author Topic: 'A History of the English Speaking Peoples', by Churchill.  (Read 1179 times)

Steve H

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'A History of the English Speaking Peoples', by Churchill.
« on: September 02, 2017, 10:12:14 PM »
I've just bought this, in four volumes, for £10, in St Albans Oxfam bookshop: hardbacks, published in the late 50s and early 60s, dust-covers present and undamaged, apart from a small tear at the top of the spine of volume 3. They are an exceptionally handsome set, and I've decided to start reading them straight away. Has anyone read it? If so, what did you think of it?
My favourite story about Churchil: he was working in his study when his four-year-old grandson, also called Winston Churchill (and much later a tory M.P.) walked in. "Grandpa", said Winston junior, "Is it true that you're the greatest man in the world?" Churchill replied "Yes, it is. Now bugger off."
"That bloke over there, out of Ultravox, is really childish."
"Him? Midge Ure?"
"Yes, very."

Anchorman

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Re: 'A History of the English Speaking Peoples', by Churchill.
« Reply #1 on: September 02, 2017, 10:19:05 PM »
 I remember the great AJP Taylor, when asked for a comment, said
"Bookworm fodder. Dust is useful to fertilise the roses."
"for, as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself."

Walt Zingmatilder

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Re: 'A History of the English Speaking Peoples', by Churchill.
« Reply #2 on: September 04, 2017, 12:11:08 PM »
I remember getting the set of paperback books which were tie ins with a BBC dramatisation. Not sure which was worse but neither highly thought of.

jeremyp

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Re: 'A History of the English Speaking Peoples', by Churchill.
« Reply #3 on: September 09, 2017, 02:59:44 PM »
I've read volume 1. Highly entertaining.
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Rhiannon

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Re: 'A History of the English Speaking Peoples', by Churchill.
« Reply #4 on: September 09, 2017, 06:08:18 PM »
They used this as a starting point for the radio series This Sceptred Isle, narrated by Anna Massey and Paul Eddington. Used to have it on cassette - this may be what Vlad is referring to but I found it absolutely fab listening for a rainy afternoon.

Walt Zingmatilder

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Re: 'A History of the English Speaking Peoples', by Churchill.
« Reply #5 on: September 10, 2017, 12:38:42 AM »
They used this as a starting point for the radio series This Sceptred Isle, narrated by Anna Massey and Paul Eddington. Used to have it on cassette - this may be what Vlad is referring to but I found it absolutely fab listening for a rainy afternoon.
I understand This sceptred Isle was held in high regard. The version I am talking about was a BBC Television series of 1975 called Churchill's People.