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A Study in Failure

Churchill at the Admiralty, 1939-1940
By Simon Matthews
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Brief Description
Every politician's rise to power is a story of success and failure, accompanied by tantalising what-might-have-beens. The career of Winston Churchill was no exception, with his eight months prior to becoming Prime Minister as First Lord of the Admiralty marked by the loss of important warships,... Read More
Format: Hardback
$5799

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Every politician's rise to power is a story of success and failure, accompanied by tantalising what-might-have-beens. The career of Winston Churchill was no exception. Very much the opposite of a hagiography, A Study in Failure provides an alternative perspective on the man regularly considered the UK's greatest ever leader....

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Every politician's rise to power is a story of success and failure, accompanied by tantalising what-might-have-beens.

The career of Winston Churchill was no exception, with his eight months prior to becoming Prime Minister as First Lord of the Admiralty marked by the loss of important warships, the planning of disastrous expeditions and the design of impractical weapons. Based on archival and biographical research, this account argues that Churchill's actions at the Admiralty were for the most part misjudged and dangerous. Much of what happened could have been avoided, with lives saved and the defence of western Europe strengthened had other counsels prevailed.

Very much the opposite of a hagiography, A Study in Failure provides an alternative perspective on the man regularly considered the UK's greatest ever leader.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780857306241

Publisher: Oldcastle Books Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 10 May 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Oldcastle Books Ltd

Illustration: Work includes 8 pages of full colour illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 256

Collections

Biography & Memoir Education & Reference European History History & Archaeology History & Military Non-Fiction Political Biographies Politics & Current Affairs Simon Matthews

About the Author

Simon Matthews has had a varied career including serving as a local councillor in London for more than ten years, a spell running the British Transport Films documentary film library and several years singing in semi-professional rock groups. He has contributed articles on music, film and cultural history to Record Collector, Shindig! and Lobster magazines. Psychedelic Celluloid, his illustrated history of UK music, film and TV between 1965 and 1974, was published by Oldcastle Books in 2016; the sequel, Looking for a New England, followed in 2021. He is also the author of House in the Country, Free Your Mind! and Before It Went Rotten.

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