The Churchill Factor

How One Man Made History

By: Boris Johnson

Narrated by: Simon Shepherd

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER, BY THE AUTHOR OF UNLEASHED

'A stunning tour de force' - Sunday Telegraph
'Genuinely clever... this book sizzles.' - The Times

Ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson takes on Winston Churchill - a biography like no other.

Brexit, pandemic, economic crisis: Boris Johnson's leadership was an extraordinary period in recent British history, and his inspiration has always been Winston Churchill.

In this book, he explores what makes up the 'Churchill Factor' - the singular brilliance of one of the most important leaders of the twentieth century. Taking on the myths and misconceptions along with the outsized reality, he portrays - with characteristic wit and passion - a man of multiple contradictions, contagious bravery, breath-taking eloquence, matchless strategizing and deep humanity.

Fearless on the battlefield, Churchill had to be ordered by the King to stay out of action on D-Day; he embraced large-scale strategic bombing, yet hated the destruction of war and scorned politicians who had not experienced its horrors. He was a celebrated journalist, a great orator and won the Nobel Prize for Literature. He was famous for his ability to combine wining and dining with many late nights of crucial wartime decision-making. His open-mindedness made him a pioneer in healthcare, education and social welfare, though he remained incorrigibly politically incorrect.

Published in association with Churchill Heritage, The Churchill Factor is essential reading for anyone who wants to know what makes a great leader in a time of crisis.©2014 Boris Johnson, Published in association with Churchill Heritage Ltd.

Critic reviews

The must-read biography of the year.

An engagingly written romp through the elder statesman's greatest achievements.

Genuinely clever... this book sizzles.

Churchill's own energy - his indefatigable pursuit of excitement, glory, place and power - demands a writer of fizz and passion to do history justice. Johnson is that writer.

A bravura performance...Johnson has not only celebrated Churchill in this book: he has emulated him with comparable panache.

Riveting...Boris is a superb, accessible writer, with an easy, good-humoured touch.

A characteristically breathless romp through the life and times of our greatest wartime leader...high on entertainment as it is on providing an appraisal of the great man's achievements.

Splendidly enjoyable... It is rare to find a serious study of a politician that's this entertaining.

This is a rollicking tale of a political maverick.

Before or since

“How many other individuals can you recall who had a positive impact, who personally tipped the scales of fate in favor of FREEDOM and HOPE?”

Brilliant book about a brilliant man

Such an enjoyable listen. It does jump all over the place in regards to content but that's probably what keeps it so interesting, it's not chronological but tells you snippets from all facets of his life throughout each chapter. Each chapter has a theme /topic so it's still a very well structured story. The narrator has a great voice, a very easy listen. I'm so glad I started listening to it when I had a 4 hour drive ahead of me as it kept me thoroughly entertained for the whole drive and made me look forward to the drive home again so I could keep listening. Loved it, cannot recommend this book enough!!!

Absolutely fascinating

There are many interesting books about Churchill, but this one is absolutely fascinating painting a vivid, passionate but at the same time seemingly objective portrait of the great man

The narrator had added strongly to the book with his one man theatre performance