Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill is the main character of the Splendid and the Vile. He was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 1940 to 1945 (and again from 1951 to 1955, though his second tenure is not addressed in this book). Since his time in office, Winston Churchill has become an icon and a war-time hero who is famously remembered particularly for leading the United Kingdom to victory against Nazi Germany. Churchill is remembered for his skills as an orator and many lines from his speeches have become famous and iconic in the intervening years. He is also known for his personal courage, his refusal to capitulate to Hitler, and his ability to galvanize the spirit and courage of the British people during the war effort.

Some members of government were initially skeptical about Churchill's appointment as he had a reputation for being somewhat of...