First Lady: The Life and Wars of Clementine Churchill

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From the personal and political upheavals of the Great War, through the Churchills’ ‘wilderness years’ in the 1930s, to Clementine’s desperate efforts to preserve her husband’s health during the struggle against Hitler, this is the inspiring but often ignored story of one of the most important women in modern history.

Without Churchill’s inspiring leadership Britain could not have survived its darkest hour and repelled the Nazi menace. Without his wife Clementine, however, he might never have become Prime Minister. By his own admission, the Second World War would have been ‘impossible without her’. Clementine was Winston’s emotional rock and his most trusted confidante; not only was she involved in some of the most crucial decisions of war, but she exerted an influence over her husband and the Government that would appear scandalous to modern eyes. Yet her ability to charm Britain’s allies and her humanitarian efforts on the Home Front earned her deep respect, both behind closed doors in Whitehall and among the population at large.

That Clementine should become Britain’s ‘First Lady’ was by no means pre-ordained. Born into impecunious aristocracy, her childhood was far from gilded. Her mother was a serial adulteress and gambler, who spent many years uprooting her children to escape the clutches of their erstwhile father, and by the time Clementine entered polite society she had become the target of cruel snobbery and rumours about her parentage. In Winston, however, she discovered a partner as emotionally insecure as herself, and in his career she found her mission. Her dedication to his cause may have had tragic consequences for their children, but theirs was a marriage that changed the course of history. Now, acclaimed biographer Sonia Purnell explores the peculiar dynamics of this fascinating union.

Review

“Engrossing. . . Clementine Churchill became her husband’s essential confidante and adviser, vetting his speeches, smoothing over his faux pas, dealing with his constituents. . . Purnell’s book is the first formal biography of a woman who has heretofore been relegated to the sidelines.”

“This exemplary biography illustrates how Clementine’s intelligence, hard work, and perseverance in often difficult circumstances made her every bit a match for her remarkable, intimidating husband, and a fascinating figure in her own right.”

'Compellingly readable...the heroic saga of a warrior queen who wanted power but only got it by playing subtle diplomatic games as her husband's éminence grise during two world wars.'

‘Well researched and fluently written. Eminently readable.’

'It seems remarkable that no one has given this remarkable woman proper biographical treatment before. One of the great political partnerships...sensitively explored by Sonia Purnell.'

'Eye opening biography. First Lady is a bold biography of a bold woman; at last Purnell has put Clementine Churchill at the centre of her own extraordinary story, rather than in the shadow of her husband's.'

'From the influence she wielded to the secrets she kept a new book looks at the extraordinary role of Winston Churchill's wife Clementine who proved that behind every great man is a great woman. Giving Winston confidence and conviction was a key element of her support. The safety and security that Clementine provided - as an emotional blanket and political sounding board - was vital in allowing Churchill to be the dominant politician of his age. Churchill's chief of staff, General Pug Ismay said later: "Without her...the history of Winston Churchill and of the world would have been a very different story."'

'Both scrupulous and fair-minded, Sonia Purnell has done her subject proud in this eye-opening and engrossing account of the strong-willed and ambitious woman without whom - so Purnell argues with authority - Winston Churchill's political career would have been a washout. It is clear from this admirable account that Churchill would never have risen to greatness without Clementine.'

'Sonia Purnell has written a highly readable, well researched, and insightful biography. This is an immensely enjoyable and deeply researched account.'

‘An intriguing study of a character both deeply flawed and, in her way, magnificent.’

'Outstanding.'

‘A unique take on Mrs Churchill’s time as Britain’s ‘First Lady’.’

‘Purnell is an exhaustive researcher and eloquent storyteller. This biography is partly a history of domesticity, and this is its great strength. Winston clearly loved his wife. More to the point, he needed her. Purnell shows convincingly how much ‘great men’ rely on the everyday emotional labour of the women closest to them. Purnell wants to say much more than this, however: she wants Clementine to be recognised as a ‘great woman’. More interesting, though, is what this look at Britain’s ‘first lady’ tells us about the role of leaders’ wives in the UK compared to in the US.’

"Purnell has delivered an astute, pacey account of a woman who hardly ever emerged from the shadows. It is a sharp analysis of what it meant to be a politician's wife. . . [and] shows how much we can learn about Winston Churchill from his wife and marriage."

“Engrossing. . .Clementine Churchill became her husband’s essential confidante and adviser, vetting his speeches, smoothing over his faux pas, dealing with his constituents. . . Purnell’s book is the first formal biography of a woman who has heretofore been relegated to the sidelines.”

About the Author

Sonia Purnell is a writer and journalist known for her investigative skills and lively writing style. She started work at the Economist Intelligence Unit, edited a weekly financial magazine when only 25, and then went on to a senior position on the Daily Telegraph's City pages. It was whilst working in the Telegraph's Brussels bureau in the early Nineties that she first came into close contact with Boris Johnson, then at a turning point in his personal life and working career. After her stint in Brussels, Sonia wrote about government for the Daily Telegraph and then the Daily Mail, where she was Whitehall Editor. She is now freelance and lives in London with her husband and two sons.

Review:

4.3 out of 5

86.15% of customers are satisfied

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly recommended. I couldn't put it down!

C.O. · 18 May 2015

A rich and nourishing book, First Lady transports you into the very centre of what becomes clear was one of the most significant marriages in the history of this country. I had idly known that Clementine was an exceptional wife to the towering personality of Churchill, but what this book reveals is absolutely riveting. It is clear that without her to minister to him when he was overcome by ill-health and stress, Churchill would not have got through the war. In addition to the essential nature of her role in Winston's life, the stories of her actual involvement in government and indeed vital international diplomacy are totally fascinating, at times astonishing. And then her extraordinary trip to Moscow in 1945 to be honoured for her humanitarian efforts- where the description of her being ushered into the presence of Stalin with Molotov at his side, made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.!Sonia Purnell has done well to set the record straight and bring alive the memory of a truly exceptional woman who made the most remarkable, and yet relatively unremarked upon contribution to the history of this country

4.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful Study of a Remarkable Woman

C.E.U. · 22 June 2015

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is well-written, highly readable and, I suspect, is the product of excellent research.It is very odd that Clementine Churchill has not been given more literary attention. Although my guess is that Ms Purnell overplays Clemmie's influence on her husband's political opinions (when reading this book one is sometimes left with the impression that she rather Winston was responsible for most of his brilliant oratory), there can be no doubt that she played an enormous part in his work. It is particularly fascinating to see how she was privy to pretty well every state secret during the war. Even cabinet ministers, sometimes war cabinet ministers, were kept in the dark when Clemmie was told all.Clemmie's childhood and youth were pretty rotten. Her serial breaking off of engagements to eligible young men probably strikes the modern reader as being somewhat strange. But her total commitment to Winston, when she took the plunge, was remarkable. He must have been an exceptionally difficult (though clearly loving) husband. She hardly ever wavered in her determination to support him in everything. For a large part of their married life they had awful money problems. He always assumed everything would be all right in the end. She must have been desperately worried. But she battled on. Winston and his work must always come first.Of course, like all of us, she had her faults. She does seem to have been quite a hypochondriac (constantly going off to have "cures"). But she also suffered from real illnesses, particularly depression. The strain she must have been under, particularly during the wilderness years and the war, was plainly immense. But she never really gave in.And I am sure Ms Purnell is right to credit Clemmie with having kept Winston in touch with the views of ordinary people when his own instincts would have been to ignore them. There are also well-documented examples of advice she gave on tactics and strategy which turned out to be absolutely correct. But, if I have one tiny concern about this book, it is its author's desire to portray Clemmie as a sort of modern-day feminist and Socialist. Of course, I accept that she favoured the extension of the franchise to women and that she had enormous concern for the poor. She also, of course, was upset at her husband's treatment by the Conservative Party in the years between the wars. She probably did think that the Liberals were altogether kinder and better people. But the constant hints in the book to the effect that she preferred Labour to the Tories (especially during and after the war) simply do not ring true. Perhaps we will have to wait for more biographies before we can work out the true picture.For the time being, however, this is a book which I have no hesitation in recommending. It is a triumph.Charles

5.0 out of 5 stars Winston's wife - in a new light

N. · 21 December 2023

This is a fascinating well researched biography which really back up the old adage "behind every great man stands a great woman". Sonia Purnell really makes a case for Clementine's unusual political contribution as the wife of the Prime Minister, so that every time Winston Churchill is fêted as a great Briton (or, indeed, the greatest), perhaps it is their partnership which should be celebrated. Apart from this I was particularly interested to read about her relationship with her husband (which seemed to thrive on periods of separation) and her friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt.If you have an interest in Churchill, WWII in general, the time of women during the war or, more obviously, in Clementine - who was so much more than just Winston Churchill's wife, this is the book for you.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating book

P.T. · 2 February 2022

I loved such a beautifully written biography about a fascinating woman . It enthralled me from beginning to end. So well researched as well.

3.0 out of 5 stars Well written but disappointing lack of photographs

J. · 2 June 2015

Kindle copy does not appear to have illustrations and the table of contents does not appear to work as a navigation tool. This appears to be a well written book with hitherto unknown detail of this remarkable woman's life. However, when reading biography I like to access the photographs to see what characters looked like at different times. The absence of illustrations in the kindle version has curtailed that enjoyment for me. This is a great pity because the hardback biographies I used to buy now feel too heavy to read in bed. They do have the illustrations though.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good backdrop to life with Mr Churchill

I.H. · 8 January 2023

I read a fair bit of military and political history. This book looks at the life of Clementine and hence life with Winston Churchill. It is fairly evident that life with Winston was hard going; booze, gambling, needing to be the centre of attention. This book makes for an entertaining read about upper class life without quite enough money.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent assessment of a woman who not only supported or ...

A.D.P. · 16 July 2015

An excellent and well written assessment of a woman who not only supported our wartime leader, but was a real force in her own right. The book gives a fascinating insight to Clementine Churchill's less well known activities, as well as giving a different perspective to some of the more well known activities of her husband.

5.0 out of 5 stars They say that behind a great man there is a great woman

P. · 30 September 2016

I think, after reading this book (based mostly on their letters) that without Mrs Clementine we should all speak German today.They say that behind a great man there is a great woman, but this woman basically saved the world!Also the book is written in a very easy way and pleasant.Strongly recommended.

A behind-the-scenes look at the Churchills ...

l. · 13 February 2022

This well written biography is a behind the scenes look at the marriage of Clementine and Winston before, during and after the war. By focusing on Clementine, Sonia Purnell gives us a different lense through which to see her husband. A wife devoting her life to her husband and his career is not a popular choice nowdays, but the book shows us how Clementine's support helped Winston to be the man he was. He might not have been able to save Europe from complete collapse (as he did in the first years of the war) had his outrageous brilliance, creativity, and self-belief not been trusted, nurtured, and buttressed by Clementine's unflagging support. She was the penultimate diplomat, and he was her country. Absorbing and thought provoking.

A Wonderful Book!

P.H. · 27 March 2018

Great book! Very well written, interesting, incisive and a well researched book about the relationship of Winston and Clementine Churchill, a couple who always found "True North" in each other. Churchill, the greatest son of Britain, would have been a different man and history would have taken a different course without Clementine at his side.

Spellbinding

J. · 10 September 2018

An excellent read, addictive almost impossible to put down. Full of fact and insight. Rich yet concise and unfussy in the detail. I have no hesitation in recommending this biography of one of the 20th century's most interesting yet unsung heroines.

Behind every great man stands an even greater woman

A.C. · 24 May 2017

I read a lot of books about Churchill and the crucial role he played in World War II in fighting the Germans , but never before I read about the fact that he had a soundboard, companion and ally in his wife Clementine - who was a great personality, a politically very clever and most unusual woman. Had she been born in the twenty-first century (or even in the second half of the twentieth), she might have been a great politician of her own. Living in the age she did, she chose to support her husband - and in doing so she not only shared the burden of her husband during two World Wars, but made it possible that he became the most decisive politician of the last century, who almost singel-handedly led Britain against all odds to victory over tyranny. Clementine Churchill was the living proof of the idea that behind every great man an even greater woman stands. Winston Churchill did not only offer his people blood, toil, tears and sweat, he also had his Clementine at h is side and theirs. Their marriage was the ultimate coalition: it certainly deserves this very well written, entertaining and thorough biography of an remarkable woman who chose a path in life that was very close to the ideals of the later feminist movement - although feminists might not see it that way. Highly recommended!

Terrible book

S. · 22 April 2017

Terrible book. Sonia does an insipid job of capturing the characters of Winston and Clementine. The reader starts to hate them both almost from Chapter 2 onwards.

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First Lady: The Life and Wars of Clementine Churchill

Name: First Lady: The Life and Wars of Clementine Churchill
Brand: Aurum
SKU: K1781313075
Price: 7.31 BHD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.3 (13 reviews)

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