Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat

By: John Lukacs

Narrated by: John Lee

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.

©2008 John Lukacs (P)2008 BBC Audiobooks America

Simply Outstanding

i have read much about WWII, the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt, the life of Winston Churchill and his relationships to Roosevelt and Stalin. However, this short audio look at Churchill's speeches and what they reveal about his understanding of the war and of Britain's place in the world that would come after the war completely astounded me. i now wish Roosevelt could have stepped back from his egotism just a bit to see what a gift he had in the foresight and wisdom of Winston Churchill. i have listened to this recording twice and will return to it again I am sure.

Words Matter

Lukacs focuses both his robust scholarship and lived experience on an assessment of a few carefully chosen words of the man who stood between much of the world’s potential enslavement.

The narrator is up to the task. Not easy when the book is about a speech.

Loved it

I guess with AI could now get some type of speech recognition and “hear” the speeches never recorded.

Excellent essay!

Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat: The Dire Warning: Churchill's First Speech as Prime Minister, by John Lukacs (2008, audiobook 3 hours). This short book—an essay—is a tight look at Churchill’s less than universally welcomed ascension to power in Great Britain at the beginning of WWII and his stiff resolve in confronting German aggression as exemplified by his Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat speech. Excellent summary of this speech which, interestingly, was not universally appreciated at the time, but which underscored a resolve that in the moment resided in Winston but not necessarily either the people or the government for whom he was speaking.

very enjoyable listen!

excellent narration by John Lee, as always! Churchill was a great orator, his speeches were inspiring!