The Literary Churchill: Author, Reader, Actor

Jonathan Rose's book isn't exactly a biography of Winston Churchill, nor is it a study of his literary efforts. Instead, it is something more intricate: an examination of the influence of literature and theater on Churchill's career. Rose makes the argument that Churchill consciously constructed his public image based on the archetypes of the popular theater of the time. The dramatic style he cultivated was the norm for the era in his early part of his career, and while it came across as dated in the interwar era it was integral to his appeal as prime minister during World War II. Though Rose overstates his argument by reading the literary influence in areas where it can't necessarily be sustained, he nonetheless provides a fresh and informative interpretation of Churchill's career, one that sheds new light onto how he shaped his image as a politician and statesman.