Churchill's Citadel: Chartwell and the Gatherings Before the Storm [Paperback]

A major new history of Churchill in the 1930s, showing how his meetings at Chartwell, his country home, strengthened his fight against the Nazis
 
In the 1930s, amidst an impending crisis in Europe, Winston Churchill found himself out of government and with little power. In these years, Chartwell, his country home in Kent, became the headquarters of his campaign against Nazi Germany. He invited trusted advisors and informants, including Albert Einstein and T. E. Lawrence, who could strengthen his hand as he worked tirelessly to sound the alarm at the prospect of war.
 
Katherine Carter tells the extraordinary story of the remarkable but little known meetings that took place behind closed doors at Chartwell. From household names to political leaders, diplomats to spies, Carter reveals a fascinating cast of characters, each of whom made their mark on Churchill’s thinking and political strategy. With Chartwell as his base, Churchill gathered intelligence about Germany’s preparations for war—and, in doing so, put himself in a position to change the course of history.“In this fascinating book, [Carter shows how] Churchill used his years of exile at Chartwell to rebuild his life and his political career . . . [and] paints a delightful portrait of a family home in its many off-duty moments.”—Kathryn Hughes, Mail on Sunday

“Ms. Carter organizes her book around 12 prominent visitors to Chartwell over the course of the 1930s. . . . Each conversation . . . is enriched by her narrative. . . . These important, and before now underappreciated, conversations amplify the roar of England’s ‘last lion.’”—Larry P. Arnn,Wall Street Journal

“A stimulating and enjoyable work that shows us interwar politics from an unfamiliar angle.”—Richard Vinen,Literary Review

“Riveting. . . . The author has a wonlS