Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat, John Lukacs
Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat, John Lukacs
List: $14.95 | Sale: $10.47
Club: $7.47

Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat
The Dire Warning: Churchill’s First Speech as Prime Minister

Author: John Lukacs

Narrator: John Lee

Unabridged: 2 hr 53 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/12/2008

Synopsis

On May 13, 1940, Winston Churchill stood before the House of Commons to deliver his first speech as prime minister. Europe was in crisis: three days earlier, Germany had invaded France and the Low Countries. Facing only feeble resistance, Hitler’s armies were rapidly sweeping westward. Churchill had little support within the British government when he rose to address it that day. He lacked confidence, both in himself and in his ability to lead his nation to victory, for he recognized far earlier than most the military genius of Adolph Hitler, and the potency of the German military. In Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat, the eminent historian and master storyteller John Lukacs recreates this pivotal moment in world history, and reveals Churchill as he has rarely been seen before: as a man both unsure of himself and deeply fearful of his nation’s defeat.

About John Lukacs

John Lukacs was professor of history at Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia, until his retirement and has been visiting professor at many universities. He is the author of twenty-one books, among them The Hitler of History, The Duel, The End of the Twentieth Century and the End of the Modern Age (which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize), and A Thread of Years. He is the recipient of numerous academic honors and awards.

About John Lee

John Lee is an illustrator from Memphis, TN currently living in Brooklyn, NY. He received his BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute, and MFA from SVA's Illustration as Visual Essay program. He's worked in a variety of markets including: storyboarding, advertising, editorial, book, fashion and web illustration, as well as live drawing and reportage. He has also taught illustration at the Memphis College of Art.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Mpc1 on May 08, 2010

This was a quick and enjoyable read and a good overview of Churchill's character. It's not a thorough biography but a great portrait of the critical importance Churchill played in the early days of world war 2. If nothing else, the reader comes away with a firm understanding of what an important rol......more

Goodreads review by Ben on January 01, 2023

This was a pretty good, short recounting of Churchill’s takeover of the British government and the beginning of WWII. The interesting title focuses on Churchill’s matter of fact speech to the British people that he was offering no flowery future of easily defeating the enemy, but rather “blood, toil......more

Goodreads review by Ángel on October 14, 2021

Crónica de una época crucial de la Historia, la respuesta a la invasión nazi de Europa, a través de sus personajes esenciales y, en particular, de Winston Churchill, de su liderazgo y las dificultades y obstáculos a las que se enfrentó, con el hilo conductor de sus discursos, y su trascendencia real......more

Goodreads review by Nathan on November 26, 2018

A succinct account of the time surrounding Churchill's first speech as Prime Minister. A few notes: - Lukacs describes Churchill as someone who is all too rare in history: a man who possessed the great virtue of magnanimity, and explains how Churchill used that virtue effectively to "bear providential......more

Goodreads review by Sarah on April 26, 2016

Astute, insightful, enlightening.......more

Quotes

“Churchill was a word-spinner if genius…A splendid anthology.” Sunday Telegraph

“John Lee's bright, eloquent, and briskly paced narration gives just the right feel to this production.”
AudioFile

Add to Cart
Add to Wish List