The Young Churchill: The Early Years of Winston Churchill Book

Churchill's coming- of-age, as only his granddaughter could tell it. Many biographers have traced and analyzed Churchill's role as the premier statesman of the twentieth century. Few have had access to private papers, letters, and photographs that make this unique book possible. Young Winston was a rakehell. At age 9 he kicked to pieces the straw hat of the headmaster at St. George's School. At 15, he suffered a concussion from falling off a bicycle. At 16 he gave up smoking (for the first time). At 17 he was flogged for breaking windows. At 19 he promised his father he would smoke no more than two cigars a day. At 20 his writing was first published in the national press, and he made his first public speech. Here, told with love and Churchillian wry wit, is the fascinating story of Winston's early years, complete with letters in his actual handwriting and photos depicting the transformation from chubby tyke to dashing hussar. His granddaughter's account perfectly fills the biographical gap. Black and white and color photos and illus.

The granddaughter of Winston Churchill draws from fresh material from the family archives, hitherto ignored or unknown, to create the first serious study of her grandfather's formative years. PBS will air a three-part series on the Churchill family in October. Photos & illustrations.