Lee, C: Churchills

Beautiful, rich, and powerful, the Churchills dominated world politics for generations-but like every family, they too have their secrets.

Beautiful, rich, and powerful, the Churchills dominated world politics for generations-but like every family, they too have their secrets.Winston Churchill is arguably the most famous Briton, but a shroud of mystery still surrounds him and his family-Winston's mother, Jennie had a secret affair with the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, and her spendthrift habits devastated their reputation. The younger brother, Jack, has been largely forgotten, but played a crucial role both in Winston's successes, and in holding the family together during the tough times-all this in addition to the myths propagated by Winston's political enemies that persist to this day.From Sir Randolph's alleged syphilis to Winston's illegitimacy, and from Jennie's gambling problem to Jack's dashed ambitions, authors Celia and John Lee use never before seen archives to cut through the rumors and lies and get to the truth about the life of the former prime minister and his relationship with his family. Chock full of intrigue and scandal, The Churchills finally sets the record straight regarding one of the world's greatest dynasties.

Introduction * Chapter 1: Love at First Sight (1873 - 1876) * Chapter 2. An Irish 'Exile' 1876-1880 * Chapter 3. A Political Star is Born 1880-1882 * Chapter 4. A Sea of Troubles 1882-1885 * Chapter 5. A Shooting Star Burns Out 1885-1886 * Chapter 6. A Happy Family Again? 1887-1889 * Chapter 7. Looking for Gold 1890-1892 * Chapter 8. One 'Handful'; One Model Child 1892-1893 * Chapter 9. Settling the Boys' Future 1893-1894 * Chapter 10. The Last Journey 1894-1895 * Chapter 11. A Royal Affair: Jennie and the Prince of Wales * Chapter 12. Financial Worries and Career Development 1895-1897 * Chapter 13. Financial Crisis and a Career Denied 1898-1899 * Chapter 14. Brothers in Arms: War in South Africa 1899-1900 * Chapter 15. Getting On 1900 - 1906 * Chapter 16. Two Brides for Two Brothers 1907-1908 * Chapter 17. Liberal Britain 1909 - 1914 * Chapter 18. A World at War: From the Western Front to Gallipoli 1914-1915 * Chapter 19. Seeing it Through 1916-1918 * Chapter 20. Post War Britain 1919 - 1929 * Chapter 21. From the Wilderness to Downing Street 1929-1940 * Chapter 22. Their Finest Hour 1940-1945 * Chapter 23. The End if it All 1945-1965 * Notes * Sources and Bibliography * Annotated Index