Candice Millard tells a magnificent story of bravery, savagery and chance encounters with a cast of historical characters - including Rudyard Kipling, Lord Kitchener and Gandhi - with whom he would later share the world stage, and gives us an unexpected perspective on one of the iconic figures in our history. Editions for Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill: 0804194890 (Paperback published in 2016).

The story of his escape is extraordinary enough, but then Churchill enlisted, returned to South Africa, fought in several battles and ultimately liberated the men with whom he had been imprisoned.Ĭhurchill would later remark that this period, 'could I have seen my future, was to lay the foundations of my later life'.

Remarkably, he pulled off a daring escape - but then had to traverse hundreds of miles of enemy territory alone. Just two weeks later, he was taken prisoner.

Although he had put himself in real danger in colonial wars in India and Sudan, and as a journalist covering the Spanish-American War in Cuba, glory and fame had eluded him.Ĭhurchill arrived in South Africa in 1899 to write about the brutal colonial war against the Boers. This brief overview of Hero of the Empire tells you what you need to knowbefore or after you read Candice Millard’s book. But Hero of the Empire is more than an extraordinary adventure story, for the lessons Churchill took from the Boer War would profoundly affect twentieth century history.Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition Hero of the Empire by Candice Millard, read by Simon Vance.įrom The New York Times bestselling author Candice Millard, this is the gripping true story of one dramatic - and emblematic - year in the early life of Winston ChurchillĪt the age of twenty-four, Winston Churchill believed that to achieve his ambition of becoming Prime Minister he must do something spectacular on the battlefield. Remarkably, he pulled off a daring escape-traversing hundreds of miles of enemy territory, alone, with nothing but a crumpled wad of cash, four slabs of chocolate, and his wits to guide him.īestselling author Candice Millard spins an epic story of bravery, savagery, and chance encounters with a cast of historical characters-including Rudyard Kipling, Lord Kitchener, and Mohandas Gandhi-with whom Churchill would later share the world stage. But just two weeks later, Churchill was taken prisoner.

From the bestselling author of Destiny of the Republic, this thrilling biographical account of the life and legacy of Wintson Churchill is a 'nail-biter and top-notch character study rolled into one' ( The New York Times).Īt the age of twenty-four, Winston Churchill was utterly convinced it was his destiny to become prime minister of England. He arrived in South Africa in 1899, valet and crates of vintage wine in tow, to cover the brutal colonial war the British were fighting with Boer rebels and jumpstart his political career.

Hero of the empire by candice millard