The fascinating, insightful and often moving correspondence between Sir Winston and Lady Clementine Churchill extends from their early days of innocent courtship in 1908 to Winston Churchill's death in 1965.

The letters serve not only as a chronicle of their personal achievements and tragedies over the years, but also as a political and social history. In their own words, Winston and Clementine recount some of the most momentous events of the twentieth century: the sinking of the Titanic, the abdication of King Edward VIII, the downfall of governments, the Depression, and two world wars. Here are harrowing first-hand accounts from the battlefields of 1915, reflections on political triumphs and upsets, as well as domestic minutiae, foreign travel, revelations of social scandals and, above all, words of mutual support and encouragement that span the career of one of Britain's most revered statesmen. Speaking for Themselves is not only an important historical document, it is a love story and an intimate, charming and often surprising insight into one of the century's most successful marriages.

Mary Soames is perfectly placed to select and comment upon this vast collection of letters. And in her introduction and notes she complements the letters with explanatory notes, biographical details and her own personal recollections.

The personal letters of Winston and Clementine Churchill.

About the Author
Mary Soames (1922-2014) was the youngest child of Winston and Clementine Churchill. She was brought up at Chartwell in Kent and, aged eighteen, joined the ATS and served in mixed anti-aircraft batteries in England and Europe. She accompanied her father as his ADC on several of his wartime overseas journeys. In 1945 she was awarded the MBE (military). In 1947, she married Captain Christopher Soames, Coldstream Guards, later Lord Soames, PC, GCMG, CH. In 1998 she edited the private correspondence between her parents, Speaking for Themselves, completely revised and updated the celebrated biography of her mother, Clementine Churchill, in 2002 and completed her own autobiography, A Daughter's Tale, in 2011.

Reviews
The record of a remarkably enduring marriage * The Scotsman *
Lady Soames, the Churchills' sole surviving child... has edited these letters with great skill, providing a lively commentary and vivid pen portraits of supporting characters -- Piers Brendon * Mail on Sunday *
We expect the correspondence of Winston Churchill and his wife, Clementine, to be interesting... and still these letters can astonish: in their scope; in the way their individual brilliance is sustained day by day and year upon year * Sunday Telegraph *
A fascinating aid to our understanding of an extraordinary couple -- John Grigg * Spectator *



Book Information
ISBN 9780552997508
Author Mary Soames
Format Paperback
Page Count 768
Imprint Black Swan
Publisher Transworld Publishers Ltd
Weight(grams) 911g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 153mm * 55mm