The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz

By Erik Larson

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The author of The Devil in the White City and Dead Wake delivers an intimate chronicle of Winston Churchill and London during the Blitz—an inspiring portrait of courage and leadership in a time of unprecedented crisis
 
“One of [Erik Larson’s] best books yet . . . perfectly timed for the moment.”—Time • “A bravura performance by one of America’s greatest storytellers.”—NPR 
 
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The New York Times Book Review • Time • Vogue • NPR • The Washington Post • Chicago Tribune • The Globe & Mail • Fortune • Bloomberg • New York Post • The New York Public Library • Kirkus Reviews • LibraryReads • PopMatters

On Winston Churchill’s first day as prime minister, Adolf Hitler invaded Holland and Belgium. Poland and Czechoslovakia had already fallen, and the Dunkirk evacuation was just two weeks away. For the next twelve months, Hitler would wage a relentless bombing campaign, killing 45,000 Britons. It was up to Churchill to hold his country together and persuade President Franklin Roosevelt that Britain was a worthy ally—and willing to fight to the end.

In The Splendid and the Vile, Erik Larson shows, in cinematic detail, how Churchill taught the British people “the art of being fearless.” It is a story of political brinkmanship, but it’s also an intimate domestic drama, set against the backdrop of Churchill’s prime-ministerial country home, Chequers; his wartime retreat, Ditchley, where he and his entourage go when the moon is brightest and the bombing threat is highest; and of course 10 Downing Street in London. Drawing on diaries, original archival documents, and once-secret intelligence reports—some released only recently—Larson provides a new lens on London’s darkest year through the day-to-day experience of Churchill and his family: his wife, Clementine; their youngest daughter, Mary, who chafes against her parents’ wartime protectiveness; their son, Randolph, and his beautiful, unhappy wife, Pamela; Pamela’s illicit lover, a dashing American emissary; and the advisers in Churchill’s “Secret Circle,” to whom he turns in the hardest moments.
 
The Splendid and the Vile takes readers out of today’s political dysfunction and back to a time of true leadership, when, in the face of unrelenting horror, Churchill’s eloquence, courage, and perseverance bound a country, and a family, together.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Feb 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9780385348720

Erik Larson

Erik Larson is an author of two previous books, including the critically acclaimed ‘Lethal Passage’, about a boy and a gun. Currently an award-winning writer for ‘Time’ magazine, he formerly wrote features stories for the front page of the ‘Wall Street Journal’ and taught non-fiction writing at the Johns Hopkins Writers’ Seminars and San Francisco State University. He lives in Seattle.

Reviews for The Splendid and the Vile

[anniik_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent book. Fascinating history that is easy to read and a real page turner. Larson’s ability to humanize the history that he writes is one of the best aspects of this book.

[jbgusa · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book, The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz, by Erik Larson represent a fresh approach both to Churchill and history writing. The book was weighted about one third towards the well-known speeches and political/military leadership of Winston Churchill, two-thirds to his somewhat raucous and disorderly family life. Little known is the disastrous marriage and financial dissipation of his son and daughter-in-law, the latter of whom ultimately married W. Averill Harriman.

My one quibble was insufficient coverage of his brilliant wife, Clementine Churchill. I wanted to learn more about her. The book was recommended by my late mother-in-law's husband, and a worthy referral. I recommend this book.

[maggieflo_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Splendid and the vile.This is about a year in the Second World War from May 1940 until 1941. It focuses on the new government of Winston Churchill as he stands up to Adolf Hitler. Churchill comes to power just as the French government surrenders to the Nazis. Churchill takes over and assigns brilliant people to lead the war effort, especially Lord Beaverbrook who oversees the RAF.The interesting bits of the story are the glimpses into life at Downing Street and at Chequers where we encounter the Churchill family, friends and everyone who works with the British government to secure victory. Churchill is portrayed as a brilliant statesman and strategist who surrounds himself with very competent, knowledgeable and often odd scientist or bureaucrats.His relationship with Roosevelt is tense at first as he needs American help to win the war. Eventually a Lend Lease program is in place and helps somewhat.The book is an easy read and very informative.

[mahallett · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

just 1 year. could have gone on. Churchill is a great person to read about.

[gingersnap000 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another extremely researched novel by Erik Larson.

[nmele_4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Erik Larson has been a reliable interpreter and chronicler of history through the books and years. This book is a detailed account of the years after Hitler's forces invaded Poland and before the U.S. entered the war against fascism, mostly though the perspectives of people around Winston Churchill, including his youngest daughter, one of his private secretaries, and similar people. I not only enjoyed Larson's narrative, I was able to sort out some chronologies that had eluded me, like how and when Pamela Churchill became Pamela Harriman. He is also quite good on conveying small details that illustrate the scope of the aerial war and the cost to Britain of standing alone against Hitler. Along the way, Larson gives context to Churchill's oratory, not hesitating to point out which now renowned phrases and images fell flat when first delivered. Recommended reading.

[dandiercks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lengthy (nearly 600 pages) account of Winston Churchill’s first year as Prime Minister. Lots of interesting personal information as well as thorough documentation of his day to day dealings with the logistics of conducting war against an enemy that was bombing his country almost daily. The book probably could have been a couple of hundred pages shorter, but it was a worthwhile read.

[zachmontana · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent non-fiction account of Winston Churchill's first year in office in WWII and of the life in England during that year. Reads like fiction with lots of romantic interlopers in the inner circle of Churchill and his leaders. Makes one feel they know the man and what his day to day life was in that time. Also interweaves the part played by Roosevelt and America in that year making one wonder how America could refuse to help and think that noninvolvement was the moral or even best course for America. Further endears the English people who put up with so much death, destruction, and desolation for so long while still having hope and "enduring"!

[mojomomma_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A close-up history of England during Churchill's first year as Prime Minister. Information on his family and advisors and every-day Britons preparing for war make this a fabulous read.

[rayski_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really enjoyed this book. It's only shortcoming is that it ended with Pearl Harbor. I wanted more. Very good mix of Churchill the leader and Churchill the person. Also a lot of depth of his children, particularly Mary, and wife. Reading this book you feel that Churchill alone carried England on his back to standup to Germany and not give in no matter the pain and setbacks. Lots of text from Goebbels diary writing how he admired Churchill's strength and ability to keep England fighting on no matter the bleakness of the situation. What did surprise me from the book was how Churchill spent so much time and hope on FDR to come to the Allied's aid.

[damiella-533991 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I likely didn't give this book as much attention as it deserved as I needed to finish before gifting this year. This book was definitely worth the dedicated hours. The detailed focus on the first year of Churchill's first term as Prime Minister humanises the characters I've previously encountered in more encompassing histories of this time (and I've read a number of these over the years)Erik Larson has a wonderfully easy style that was a pleasure to immerse myself in (this may have been my first book by him but it definitely won't be the last).

[ibkennedy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Too much detail in areas that didn't interest me.

[mlhershey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Churchill and the Battle of Britain. Thoroughly researched and very readible.

[grandpahobo_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Excellent. Very detailed and thorough chronicle (as all of Larson's books are). Even if you aren't a WWII history buff, its a fascinating look at the major figures of this period (and those around them) as real people, not just historical icons.

[spounds_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Story of Churchill during the Blitz. Enjoyed the book and learned a lot. Was interesting reading this and then watching "The Untold History of the United States," which was anti-Churchill.

[doondeck · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Larson has the amazing ability to weave so many stories into his histories. He captured Churchill in all his majesty and silliness.

[donhazelwood · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A couple of things struck me while reading ... first, EVERYONE seemed to have kept diaries. Second, people went to work during the blitz, their lives went on even though they were under attack.

Larson is a great story teller!

[gbelik_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Life in England during WWII--a great read.

[moekane_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Outstanding record of the year of the Battle of Britain taken from (mostly) contemporary accounts

[paintgirl-907967 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reading this during the (hopefully) waning days of the Trump era and the “third wave” of the corona virus pandemic makes me even more painfully aware of our failed leadership, our national lack of fortitude and solidarity and inability to sacrifice for the greater good.

[ethel55_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I feel like I have been reading this for weeks, because truthfully, it did take that long.(I took a break part way through and read some fiction) It's a very dense book, packing a lot into the story of the first year of Churchill's reign as prime minister and the start of the War against Germany and Great Britain. There are quite a few characters to keep track of, a lot of British government folk I didn't know much about before now. I really liked how Larson added quite a bit from personal diaries, in particular Mary Churchill (their youngest child) and the Mass Observation diaries kept by regular Brits during the war. Another good book with solid historical detail.

[janetcoletti · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fabulous, couldn’t put it down. Never read a history of Churchill so found this very informative.

[lindaloretz · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Splendid and the Vile is well-researched and extremely informative. I listened to the audiobook, and it was fascinating to learn about Churchill, the man. His personal relationships were so intertwined with his political connections. His family members were included as he made decisions that would affect his country and the world forever. I was particularly intrigued by the descriptions of Churchill's correspondence and relationship with Roosevelt and Americans. My three-star rating is due to my belief that there was a little too much detail at times, and I ended up reading and listening to other books before I finally finished this one. Erik Larsen is a master storyteller, though, and I am overall impressed with his ability to give this historical account in story form.

[tmph_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Perfectly interesting enough to finish, but not to recommend. Very, very little meat on the bones here giving as much space to little Mary as to others (and even more than Clemmie!), got very tiresome almost immediately. Quite disappointed.

[kaulsu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Larson is an incredible biographer. He does not disappoint with this book. I've read so much of WWII, I'm pretty sure I would have skipped this title had it not been written by Larson.There was so much in this I didn't know about. So much Foyles War omitted, I suppose, and so much the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich didn't find important! At some point no doubt I will reread.I had to laugh that Larson found Mary Churchill's use of the word "wuthered" to be her "term for the wind blowing around the outside walls of the house! Clearly Larson has never read "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was my first "chapter book" and I became aware of the world outside of Indiana and dialects outside of English from reading it. In this case, I refer to Yorkshire.

[marshapetry · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Excellent Narrator. I've loved all of Erik Larson books and he is thorough and interesting. That said, this was not my favorite. Jumped around enough that it was tough to follow, seems like some stories didn't get a finale... what happened? (Mostly in the Randolph, Pamela story - it wasn't "finished" and I had several questions left open). Just seemed like maybe there was too many incomplete stories but this may be a result of listening rather than reading. Overall, recommend , but better as a hardcopy read, a bit too convoluted to read as an audiobook, IMO.

[ericcostello-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fairly solid account of the 1940 London Blitz, told in Larson's usual short-chapter format that's been seen in his other works. As he himself admits, this is fairly well-ploughed ground, though he does do a good job of telling the story with colour and verve. I didn't like it quite as much as some of his other books (e.g., Devil in the White City, and his book on the sinking of the Lusitania), but it's hard to top those books. It's still recommended for WWII buffs.

[evatkaplan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

About Churchill's leadership of England during the Blitzkrig of England by the Germans. 1940--1941 until America joined the Allies.Nonfiction about how he was a great Orator, Leader and his personal life.Excellent book, not difficult to read

[ericlee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

There are literally thousands of books about Churchill. Erik Larson’s unique selling point seems to be his focus on Churchill’s family life, and in particular his weekends away from London during the Blitz. For me, this worked. It’s a compelling story, very well told, and though I thought I knew quite a bit about the period there is much that I didn’t know. Normally we are presented with a rather simple story of World War II: first the Germans were winning, then the Allies. But it was more complicated than that, with many false starts. For example, Churchill thought that the tide of battle had turned in North Africa — and then Rommel came along. And I was not aware of how ineffective the RAF and its legendary Fighter Command was at the beginning of the Blitz. The Luftwaffe, for all it ineptness, did surprisingly well. A very readable account of what must count as the worst year of the last century.

[2wondery_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very creditable and readable rendition of the war years, from the vantage point of #10 Downing Street and Checkers, the weekend estate. Lots of family and intimates detail, but also swirling out to include the rest of society and the major events. The Churchill/Roosevelt exchanges are given space too.