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Marlborough England Fragile Genius Richard Holmes 9780007225712 Books

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Marlborough England Fragile Genius Richard Holmes 9780007225712 Books

It has to be taken in account that this book is plain history, but not a novel, like the Saxon tales.
The text is well written and leads the reader forward with keen interest. The annals describes very well the devious politics of the time, two invasions of Britain and changes of kings and queens.
And the necessity to be in favor of the royal house and on the right side of parliamentary power.
The accord revels the quick tempered wife, Sarah, her fortune and misfortune in favor and the diplomatic qualities of John Churchill to be on the right side of political trends, though the couple had to face disgrace for a time.
The center peace of the history is the nine years war which during the time The Duke was Captain General of the allied forces. This war was a classical power struggle to hinder that no state could be so strong that it could control other states, unfortunately this is a constant and perpetual problem and my contemporaries lived the Cold War and now Russia-Nato Ukraine crises.
It should be noted that the Duke had an exceptional comrade in arms, The Prince Eugene of Savoy.
It is quite possible that we may thank the Prince that we Europeans where not converted to Islam.
The Prince was commander of the battle of Zenta in 1697 and the battle of Belgrade in 1717. Bothe battles where disaster for the Ottomans Turks and has kept them back to this day, but the possible Novo Sultan should be observed.
One thing in this story is extraordinary, or the struggle of Churchill and Sarah to build for themselves an eternal monument which is Blenheim Castle, but the Castle got it time as The Captain General of Britain’s finest hour was born in the Castle on 30th of November 1870.
Elías Kristjánsson


Tags : Marlborough: England's Fragile Genius [Richard Holmes] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers.,Richard Holmes,Marlborough: England's Fragile Genius,HarperPress,0007225717,Biography

Marlborough England Fragile Genius Richard Holmes 9780007225712 Books Reviews

Churchill was, despite the criticisms of his many haters, one of Britain's best generals. His victories began Britain's rise from a mere disregarded foggy little island off the coast of Europe into THE world power by the Victorian era.

This biography takes him through his hesitant beginnings through the Byzantine-style corridors of power of restoration England, to his apogee at Blenheim and Ramilles. Intersperced with the military accounts of not only Marlborough or his often unreliable Dutch partners, but also the common soldier, are the letters from him to his wife, the mercurial Sarah, who needed almost as much effort to keep under control as Marlborough's French enemies.

The skill in which John Churchill had to hold th ecoalition together took its toll on him and led to his physical decline. The book is an excellent account of that time and of the Spanish War of Succession which forms the backdrop to much of this book.

Some have averred that Churchill was a grasping man, who sold his friends down the river when it suited him, and that he was even a traitor. An absurd claim, but one that is typical of the attitude in some quarters even to this day that prevents John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, from being recognised alongside th elikes of Nelson - who lets face it, was just as much a flawed genius as Marlborough (Nelson's victory at Trafalgar and his death saved him from public disgrace which was where he was very likely heading at the time).

Richard Holmes is to be congratulated on yet another brilliant historical biography and is a must for anyone wishing to study this period of history or the Spanish War of Succession.
Richard Holmes's biography of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, the early 18th century English/British military leader is much more than the story of a single life. For non specialists of the period like myself it gives a clear and well explained narrative of the complex political developments of the period within which Marlborough operated. Much more satisfying than for example the context provided by the Walpole biography by Pearce reviewed earlier. Marlborough is shown very much as a product of being born into the losing side of the civil war period, determined never again to be wrong footed by political change.

There is much of related interest here I was unaware for example of the practice in allied forces of changing commanders on alternate days when two leaders were of equal rank. One key thread running through is the links that are apparent between this Churchill and his relative, the World War II leader. Marlborough headed an alliance of many nations against the great power of the time (France); he had to court support and bite his lip at times to keep the alliances in place; he delegated wisely and made very good use of intelligence; he needed to rely on materiel and financial support from elsewhere. Ultimately, like Winston Churchill he was turned away from with victory. Holmes alludes to these comparisons, but does not labour them. Indeed he shows Winston Churchill as a flawed biographer of Marlborough himself. Nonetheless the similarities between the two are eerie, leading one to speculate how much Winston Churchill actively used the example of Marlborough's experience to determine his own relationships with the allied leaders in World War II.

Holmes is a military historian and the prospect of page after page of the military campaigns fought may be a daunting prospect for many. However, Holmes does not allow these to dominate and keeps a good balance between these and the other factors, notably his wife Sarah, that influenced the man. All in all a well rounded and researched biography with relevant illustrations and very helpful map (although a key to the annotation of military maps would be useful to the non specialist) and a good read.
As can be expected from this Author, you will get a Top Drawer bio about one of England's Best field generals. It is packed with interesting facts and a lively pace. I most highly recommend this book!
Good informative book on Marlborough. Probably the best.
It has to be taken in account that this book is plain history, but not a novel, like the Saxon tales.
The text is well written and leads the reader forward with keen interest. The annals describes very well the devious politics of the time, two invasions of Britain and changes of kings and queens.
And the necessity to be in favor of the royal house and on the right side of parliamentary power.
The accord revels the quick tempered wife, Sarah, her fortune and misfortune in favor and the diplomatic qualities of John Churchill to be on the right side of political trends, though the couple had to face disgrace for a time.
The center peace of the history is the nine years war which during the time The Duke was Captain General of the allied forces. This war was a classical power struggle to hinder that no state could be so strong that it could control other states, unfortunately this is a constant and perpetual problem and my contemporaries lived the Cold War and now Russia-Nato Ukraine crises.
It should be noted that the Duke had an exceptional comrade in arms, The Prince Eugene of Savoy.
It is quite possible that we may thank the Prince that we Europeans where not converted to Islam.
The Prince was commander of the battle of Zenta in 1697 and the battle of Belgrade in 1717. Bothe battles where disaster for the Ottomans Turks and has kept them back to this day, but the possible Novo Sultan should be observed.
One thing in this story is extraordinary, or the struggle of Churchill and Sarah to build for themselves an eternal monument which is Blenheim Castle, but the Castle got it time as The Captain General of Britain’s finest hour was born in the Castle on 30th of November 1870.
Elías Kristjánsson