I am captivated by the strength, beauty, courage and intelligence of Clementine Churchill, and recommend the biography "Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill" by Sonia Purnell.
Clementine pushed herself to the max, periodically to the point of physical and mental exhaustion, and created a strong role for herself, supporting Winston whenever he needed, and he was always in need of her emotional support, and her campaign and political advice. They had a long successful marriage and each of them battled exhaustion, depression and ill health, continuing on in order to serve the people of Great Britain. Clementine was brave during the Blitz, continually visiting bomb shelters, factories and hospitals, cheering people on, and they cheered for her in return.
She was the first P.M.’s wife to be so influential in politics, wooing
politicians and the public to support Winston and his efforts to stay the course
and win WWII, and to convince Roosevelt to join the war. When European country
after country were toppled by the Nazis, England was barely and bravely holding
on. Clementine Churchill used diplomacy and charm to woo world leaders including Roosevelt’s personal trusted envoy. Clementine’s
daughter Sarah compared her to a “chandelier” and daughter Mary said “she did
give forth great life and sparkle.” Purnell writes she was “an alluring hostess”
and that a visitor recalled “an almost physical shock that Winston had such a
life-force of a wife, someone so clever, opinionated and interesting in her own
right.” She outlived three of her five children, which is heart breaking to endure.
The Kindle book has great photos at the end, including my favorite, which shows her in profile reading a book, looking every inch the alluring beauty.
Another photo shows her and Winston in 1921 on a camel trek to the pyramids in Cairo, with T.E. Lawrence and Gertrude Bell, and another shows her on horseback on a wild boar hunt in France, Purnell explaining that she was fearless on horseback. I knew nothing of Clementine (pronounced Clemen-teen) before reading this book and must learn more about her, so ordered Mary Churchill Soames' book about her mother and the new Erik Larson book "The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family and Defiance During the Blitz".
Bravo to Clementine, a trail blazer for strong and honorable women.
The Kindle book has great photos at the end, including my favorite, which shows her in profile reading a book, looking every inch the alluring beauty.
Another photo shows her and Winston in 1921 on a camel trek to the pyramids in Cairo, with T.E. Lawrence and Gertrude Bell, and another shows her on horseback on a wild boar hunt in France, Purnell explaining that she was fearless on horseback. I knew nothing of Clementine (pronounced Clemen-teen) before reading this book and must learn more about her, so ordered Mary Churchill Soames' book about her mother and the new Erik Larson book "The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family and Defiance During the Blitz".
Bravo to Clementine, a trail blazer for strong and honorable women.
I had never heard anything about her either Terra, very interesting! I love the profile picture of her reading. What a beautiful woman. Winston was truly blessed.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great book!
ReplyDeleteHi Terra - so pleased you read up about her and promoted the book ... yes she appears to have been a very intelligent, world-wise lady - who protected her husband during certain times - yet ensuring he lead. Would he have been as sure and successful, if she hadn't been around, I don't know. Excellent to read the post - and enjoy Mary's book ... all the best Hilary
ReplyDeleteI have just finished the excellent biography by Mary S. Lovell entitled "The Churchills: A Family at the heart of History - from the Duke of Marlborough to Winston Churchill."
ReplyDeleteClementine and Winston feature very heavily throughout that book.
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ReplyDeletewow! I never heard of her. I must look into those. thank you
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review. I just put a hold on the book so if my library ever reopens I'll get it!
ReplyDeleteI am, of course, familier with Churchill but I have read very little about his wife. This is very interesting and I will search out a bit more about this special lady. Thank you for sharing what you have learned about her!
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds fascinating! thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteI meant to say "books"! A;lso, do you have the title of the book by M. C. Soames?
ReplyDeleteThanks much!
Thank you. On my list to read.
ReplyDeleteDerek, I am putting the Mary S. Lovell book on my to read list, I have read a couple of her books and she is an excellent biographer.
ReplyDeleteBobbie, the Mary Churchill Soames book is titled "A Daughter's Tale: The Memoir of Winston Churchill's Youngest Child". I bought a used hardback copy online and it has many photos in it, which I like when reading biographies.
ReplyDeleteAs a fifth or sixth grader, I remember going through a series of biographies of women that out small local library had. The biographies were of men and women but I really was interested in those of the females. Your post just brought me back to that time of my life -- a time when my mother would say "Will you put down that book and go outside to play!" This one is now on my list although at this stage of life bothersome cataracts have slowed down my reading for a time.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of that book but did recently read "The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance during the Blitz" by Erik Larson. She figured a lot in that. It was very informative and enjoyable to read.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard anything about her before. Very interesting. I'm going to look for it.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing woman she was! I really like that profile photo of her too. I love that they had such a long and loving life together despite all they had to go through together.
ReplyDeleteI'm always interested in books that are recommended by people we blog with...there is no intention other than encouragement to look into books we may not have thought to explore. This is a perfect example. I will look it up on Amazon. Thank you for your recommendation, Terra.
ReplyDeleteOn another note--I worry if your are receiving my comments. Blogger is so temperamental lately, and I haven't heard from you. Are you getting notification of my posts?
All the best,
Jane
Thank you for telling us about Clementine Churchill. I hadn't seen much about her except in a mini-series on the royal family. She was mentioned along with WInston.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
Well thanks for that as I too didn't or know a thing about her. Interesting women know doubt.
ReplyDeleteAn amazing lady and I will look for this book! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWell over the years I've certainly hear plenty about Winston Churchill but I don't recall ever hearing about his wife. She sounds like a fascinating woman.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for both the info and your comment on my blog! I hope you enjoyed the video ~
ReplyDeleteI want to read the Larson book, too. They were a fascinating couple--and so dedicated to their country.
ReplyDeleteI like biographies of this period so will look out for this one.
ReplyDeleteI think I've read that one, or listened to it as audio book, a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteI love biographies and I would imagine a woman married to Winston Churchill had a very interesting life. When I was a girl, I remember their daughter, Sarah, a budding actress, was in some anthology program. She definitely got her looks from her mother and her vices from her dad.
ReplyDeleteThat would be great book to read. I never knew how amazing she was.
ReplyDeleteMy husband has read many of Churchill's books about history. Even bought some at a used book store in England. I'll see if we can get one on Amazon.
She was a character and a driving force. Churchill had an intense intelligence and she kept him sane, on course.
I do love biographies and I sure hope to be able to read quite a few of them now that I am retired...I have been so busy though doing a lot of projects that I put off!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by and for taking the time to comment!! Stay safe, healthy and happy!!
Hugs,
Debbie
I just read Erik Larson's "The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family and Defiance During the Blitz" and while the focus is on Winston, Clementine does come off very well. Anyways, she must have been a master of patience, tolerance and strength in her own right to stand as a pillar in that family, in that that nation, at that time. The Clementine book is now on my to-read list.
ReplyDeleteNever know many facts about her. But must read more.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful woman, she must have been.
Thank you for the prompt.
And oh my, what a lovely, lovely portrait!!!!!
✨🌸✨🌷✨🌼✨
I don't read a lot of books, but biograhies were my favorite books to read. Think I would enjoy reading this one about Clementine. Tara, thank you for commenting on my decorating blog post. I've just seen your comment today. I do loves mules. Thank you for telling me about "The Oregon Trail". I plan to look for that book.
ReplyDeleteLove the sound of this one! She sounds like a truly fascinating person. :)
ReplyDeleteShe sounds wonderful, and I am amazed at how pretty she is! I never pictured Churchill having such a lovely wife! Would love to read this one. Sounds really interesting. Thank you for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting, will have check out her bio.
ReplyDeleteDelightful post and very interesting. I have always admired Clementine and I thoroughly enjoyed your post. Thank you Terra :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a wonderful book.
ReplyDeleteDear Terra thank you for such wonderful sharing I know thehusband but never heard about lady with such Inspiring personality who supported him throughout his political career glad to know
DeleteI read a book of their letters. They wrote to each other even when in the same house! It was great. It's called Winston and Clementine.
ReplyDeleteI want to read the story of the influential woman Clementine. It seems like this book is interesting to read the story. Thank you for your recommendation.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Indonesia.
Hallo, Terra, I'm completely fascinated about this woman! Till today, till this your post, I did not know anything about Clementine Churchill. So I say thank you and also I say, that this post is written in a very good style - you want to read the complete text slowly and once more and more about her.
ReplyDeleteMany greetings from Dori from the Bavarian Forest
Hallo, Himawan Sant, I want to say you here, that I#m sorry, that i am notable to post a comment into your beautiful wedding-Post!
ReplyDeletemany Greetings from Dori from the Bavarian Forest.
Hallo, Terra, here I set some message to Indonesia, I hope, he will see it.
have a beautiful Sunday!
Thanks for writing about this, Terra. I have a great interest in English history and am intrigued by Churchill but know much less about Clementine. She sounds remarkable. I'll be looking for this one, to be sure.
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving us info on this. I was looking forward to adding more new reading to my list. Churchill was a favorite of mine and I think I will like his wife as well. HUGS
ReplyDelete