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

Erik Larson delivers another gem. If you aren’t a big reader of history (or non-fiction), start with Larson. He weaves historical facts together so that it’s never confusing. And the research that went into this book is astounding.

The book revolves around Churchill. It shows his idiosyncrasies alongside his public persona, making for an entertaining portrayal of someone so well known. Larson also presents accounts from Churchill’s family and his “inner circle.” Two examples would be his daughter’s (Mary) diary about attending parties contrasted with one of his private secretaries (John Colville) journals. Also, during WWII, people volunteered to be “Mass-Observation diarists,” and Larson sprinkles their diary entries throughout. This book is both fascinating and terrifying. It’s one thing to know England was bombed, it’s quite another to experience it through other people’s eyes. I couldn’t stop reading.