William Manchester didn't finish it. That’s the first thing you have to wrap your head around when you pick up The Last Lion, specifically the final volume. It’s a massive, sprawling, three-part beast of a biography that covers Winston Churchill’s life from the Victorian era to his final breath in 1965. Manchester spent decades living inside Churchill’s head, but by the time he reached the third book, "Defender of the Realm," his health was failing. He was grieving the death of his wife. The words just wouldn't come anymore. He eventually turned to Paul Reid, a journalist he trusted, to take the torch and finish the story of the man who arguably saved Western civilization.
It was a gamble. Usually, when a secondary author steps in to finish a masterwork, the seams show. It feels clunky. But The Last Lion survived the transition because the subject matter is so incredibly dense and magnetic that the sheer force of Churchill’s personality carries the reader through.
If you’ve ever wondered why your grandfather or that one history-buff friend is obsessed with this guy, this is the book that explains it without the dry, textbook boredom. It’s about a man who was often wrong, frequently rude, deeply depressed, and yet, somehow, exactly what the world needed in 1940.
What Most People Get Wrong About The Last Lion
People think these books are just about World War II. They aren't. Honestly, the most fascinating parts of the trilogy—and especially the buildup in the middle—deal with Churchill’s "Wilderness Years." Imagine being the most famous politician in your country, then suddenly being treated like a crazy uncle no one wants to invite to dinner. That was Churchill in the 1930s. He was screaming about Hitler while everyone else was busy trying to keep the peace at any cost.
Manchester’s genius lies in showing the isolation. Churchill was sitting at Chartwell, his country home, laying bricks and feeding black swans, all while his career looked like it was in the gutter. It’s a lesson in persistence that feels surprisingly modern. We talk about "pivoting" or "resilience" in 2026 like they're new concepts, but Churchill was the original king of the comeback.
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The final book, The Last Lion: Defender of the Realm, covers the period from 1940 to 1965. It’s the "payoff" volume. You see the stress of the Blitz, the drinking (which was legendary), and the crushing weight of the Cold War that followed. It’s not a hagiography. Manchester and Reid don't hide the fact that Churchill could be a nightmare to work for. He shouted. He worked from his bathtub. He had a temper that could strip paint.
The Paul Reid Factor
When Reid took over for the final installment, he had to sift through Manchester’s mountains of notes. The transition is a point of debate among history nerds. Some say Reid’s prose is a bit more journalistic and less "literary" than Manchester’s sweeping, rhythmic style. You can tell the difference if you’re looking for it. Manchester wrote like he was composing a symphony; Reid writes like he’s reporting from the front lines.
But does it matter? Not really. The story of 1940–1945 is so inherently dramatic that a "just the facts" approach actually helps ground the narrative. You get the sense of the ticking clock. The desperation. The way Churchill used the English language as a weapon when he had almost no other weapons left to brandish.
Why This Biography Ranks Above the Rest
There are hundreds of Churchill books. Andrew Roberts wrote a great one recently. Roy Jenkins wrote a solid one. But The Last Lion remains the heavyweight champion because of its sheer intimacy. Manchester didn't just want to tell you what Churchill did; he wanted to tell you what his cigars smelled like and how the fabric of his robes felt.
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- The research is staggering. We’re talking about thousands of primary sources, letters, and personal diaries.
- The psychological depth. Manchester explores "the Black Dog," which was Churchill’s name for his recurring bouts of severe depression.
- The context. You aren't just learning about a man; you’re learning about the death of the British Empire.
Churchill was born when the British flag flew over a quarter of the globe. He died when the Beatles were topping the charts. That’s an insane amount of change for one human to process. The Last Lion captures that vertigo—the feeling of a man who was a Victorian at heart trying to navigate the nuclear age.
Facing the Controversies
It would be dishonest to talk about this book without acknowledging where Churchill’s reputation sits today. In 2026, we look at history through a much sharper lens regarding colonialism and race. Manchester, writing the bulk of this in the late 20th century, definitely has a "great man" bias.
He admires Churchill. That admiration shines through. If you’re looking for a book that focuses primarily on Churchill’s failures in India or his views on empire as its central theme, this might feel a bit old-school. However, the book doesn't totally ignore these things; it just frames them within the context of a man who believed the British Empire was a force for good, even as the rest of the world was moving on. It’s a complex portrait of a man who was a hero in one context and a relic in another.
How to Actually Finish These Books
Let's be real. These books are thick. Together, they’re about 3,000 pages. You don't "read" The Last Lion so much as you live with it for a few months.
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- Don't start with the third book. Even though the WWII stuff is the most famous, the first volume, "Visions of Glory," is essential. It explains why he became the man he was. His cold parents, his time in the cavalry, his escape from a Boer POW camp—it’s like an adventure novel.
- Listen to the audiobooks. If the physical size is intimidating, the narrators for these series are top-tier. It makes the long descriptions of parliamentary debates much easier to digest.
- Read it for the character study, not just the history. Focus on how he handled failure. Churchill lost more elections than most politicians ever run in. His "Last Lion" moniker isn't just about his strength; it’s about his refusal to go away.
Impact on Modern Leadership
You see Churchill’s influence everywhere, from CEOs to wartime leaders today. They all quote him. Usually, they quote the "never surrender" bits. But the real takeaway from The Last Lion is the importance of being a polymath. Churchill painted. He wrote history. He laid bricks. He understood that to lead people, you have to understand the human condition, not just policy papers.
The books also highlight his relationship with Franklin D. Roosevelt. It’s one of the great "bromances" of history, but it was also fraught with tension. Manchester dives into the letters between them, showing how Churchill had to essentially woo the United States into the war. It wasn't a foregone conclusion. It was a long, desperate sales pitch.
Actionable Takeaways from the Churchill Saga
If you’re going to dive into this massive literary undertaking, do it with a plan. Don't just let it sit on your shelf to look smart.
- Analyze the Rhetoric: Pay attention to how Churchill constructed his speeches. He avoided "ten-dollar words." He liked short, punchy Anglo-Saxon words. "Blood, toil, tears, and sweat."
- Study the Schedule: Churchill’s daily routine was bizarre but effective. He worked in bed until lunchtime, took a long nap in the afternoon, and worked late into the night. It’s a reminder that "productivity" doesn't have to look like a 9-to-5 grind.
- Observe the Resilience: When you hit the "Wilderness Years" section in volume two, take notes on how he handled being ignored. He didn't stop writing. He didn't stop researching. He kept his tools sharp for the moment he would need them again.
The Last Lion isn't just a biography; it’s a manual on how to survive your own failures. Whether you’re a history student or just someone trying to figure out how to navigate a chaotic world, the story of Winston Churchill—as told by Manchester and Reid—remains the gold standard for understanding what it takes to hold the line when everything is falling apart.
Start with volume one. Take your time. The lion isn't going anywhere.
Next Steps for Readers:
- Verify the Edition: Ensure you are getting the Paul Reid completed version of Volume 3, as early drafts and partial releases existed in the collector's market.
- Contextual Reading: Pair the "Wilderness Years" chapters with a map of 1930s Europe to truly visualize the geopolitical isolation Churchill was describing.
- Cross-Reference: Compare Manchester's account of the Gallipoli disaster in Volume 1 with modern military analyses to get a balanced view of Churchill's most significant early-career failure.