Winston's Bandits

Winston's Bandits by Adrian Phillips explores the intricate relationships and feuds among the close friends who supported Winston Churchill in achieving victory during the Second World War. This well-researched, closely argued work goes beyond conventional accounts of Churchill's life, offering an important addition to the Churchillian canon. As Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny, notes, "Phillips goes beyond most conventional accounts by also forensically focusing on the relationships between the friends, too, and especially their feuds."

Throughout his career, Churchill was often seen as an outsider, earning a reputation for poor judgement and untrustworthiness. He garnered the support of risk-takers and fellow outsiders, needing their company to create a social environment where his personality could thrive. These individuals were sharp, energetic sparring-partners, vital for the fervent discussions Churchill relished, and who shared his preference for convivial and indulgent settings.

Among these companions were Max Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook, a man who amassed a fortune through obscure financial dealings to build a press empire serving his quest for power; Brendan Bracken, the inspiration for the enigmatic politician Rex Mottram in Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited, whose own story is even more remarkable; and the young Bob Boothby, infamous for his scandalous affair with Harold Macmillan's wife and his dubious financial activities. There was also Frederick Lindemann, later Lord Cherwell, an eminent scientist, known for his ascetic lifestyle, vegetarianism, and near teetotalism, who loved engaging in competitive conversations more than he sought the high life.

Together, these friends formed what became known as Winston’s bandits, and this remarkable book narrates their friendships and the significant roles they played in both Churchill's successes and failures.