The World Crisis 1911-1918 [Abridged & Revised, in 1 Volume]

Churchill's love of the subject and knowledge make this work a great, easy read. I learned a lot and I love the way he goes back to Shakespeare and other literature to speak to historical veracity while reveling in the language...

Churchill wrote these volumes while a Conservative in office, sometimes when a cabinet minister, which accounts for the rare stylistic infelicities. It is an account of WWI, and emphasizes his own activities as First Lord of the Admiralty and as munitions minister. In the latter office he was the great friend of the early tank.
To a degree it shadows his later work on the WWII memoirs was a correction of earlier faults this time round. As a man of war, he certainly saw the flaws in trying to prosecute a policy without enough power to ensure maximum effort. The WWII prime minister would much rather interfere too much than let a perceived good idea languish.
I read the unabridged four volume set. Twice.

Winston Churchill was a superb writer--What more can I say? It is a one volume summary of what was originally a five volume work. This particular volume covers the years 1911-1918 of World War. Sadly, it does not include "The Aftermath," the last volume and for that reason I can only rate it at four stars. Churchill began the conflict as Lord of the Admiralty, but came under pretty stiff criticism especially after Gallipoli. Hence it is written largely to justify his own actions during the war. He is careful not to criticize Lord Kitchener who was immensely popular at the time (and who died before the end of the war). Thus there is a certain amount of obvious spin on the narration. But it's a classic now, and a very great book. I wish I show more had time to read the unabridged version. show less