Soldier, parliamentarian, prime minister, speaker, artist, writer, husband and leader - all these facets merge to make Winston Churchill one of the most complex and compelling personalities in history. In this book, the eminent English historian Paul Johnson describes the various stages of Churchill's career: from the adventures of a young cavalry officer in the service of the empire to the prophetic prediction of the already middle-aged statesman about the inevitability of the start of the Cold War. Johnson shows how Churchill's remarkable ability to adapt to circumstances, combined with his natural temper, helped him become a formidable leader throughout much of the 20th century. Johnson's account of Churchill is full of sparkling humor, anecdotes and quotes, as well as displays of the great man's resilience, courage and eccentricity.