Marlborough: His Life and Times facts for kids
Marlborough: His Life and Times is a long book about the life of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. It was written by Winston Churchill, who was a famous British leader and also a direct descendant of the Duke. This book tells the story of Marlborough in a very positive way, almost like a tribute.
About the Book
This important book has four parts, called volumes. The first part came out in October 1933. The other parts were published in 1934, 1936, and 1938. A publisher named George G. Harrap paid a lot of money to publish the book. Another publisher, Scribner's, bought the rights for the United States.
When Churchill first planned the book, he thought it would be shorter. He expected it to be one or two volumes. However, it grew into a much larger work. The book sold well, especially the first volume. Many people were interested in learning about Marlborough.
Why Churchill Wrote It
Winston Churchill started thinking about writing this book around 1929. At that time, his political party lost an election. This meant he was no longer a government minister. He lost his government salary and had more free time.
To help him with the book, Churchill hired a historian named Maurice Ashley. Maurice Ashley helped him find information about Marlborough. Churchill also worked on other history books at the same time. He began writing Marlborough seriously in 1932. He even had a friend, Edward Marsh, read his early drafts. Marsh helped him make sure the writing was clear and interesting. Churchill also sent many letters asking for ideas and facts for his book.
In the first volume, Churchill wrote about his hope for the book. He wanted to bring Marlborough back to life for modern readers. He wanted people today to understand and feel close to this important historical figure.
What the Book is About
Churchill looked closely at Marlborough's life. He wrote about Marlborough's marriage to Sarah Jennings. They met when Sarah was 15 years old. They got married and lived happily together for the rest of their lives. They were from similar social backgrounds. Churchill felt that he and his ancestor, Marlborough, had some things in common.
What People Thought of the Book
Many people thought highly of Churchill's book. A writer named Roy Jenkins reviewed it. He said the book was "a revelation," meaning it taught him a lot. He found the book exciting, especially the parts about England and Europe during the time of King Charles II.
Churchill wanted to correct some old ideas about Marlborough. About 100 years before, another historian, Thomas Babington Macaulay, had written about Marlborough. Macaulay had criticized Marlborough for changing his loyalty from King Charles II to William of Orange. He also wrote about Marlborough's dealings with the exiled King James II. Churchill worked hard to show a more positive view of his ancestor.
An American thinker named Leo Strauss was very impressed by the book. In 1965, after Churchill passed away, Strauss said that Marlborough was "the greatest historical work written in our century." He believed it was full of wisdom about politics. He even suggested that anyone studying politics should read it.
Sources
- Churchill, Winston. Marlborough: His Life and Times, Bk. 1, vols. i & ii. University of Chicago Press (2002). ISBN: 0-226-10633-0
- Churchill, Winston. Marlborough: His Life and Times, Bk. 2, vols. iii & iv. University of Chicago Press (2002). ISBN: 0-226-10635-7
- Macaulay, Thomas. The History of England (abridged). Penguin Books (1968). ISBN: 0-14-043133-0
