Courage

In Larson's characterization of Winston Churchill, the author focuses on the prime minister’s personal courage to illustrate how personal bravery from a leader can be leveraged into national courage. Churchill had a reputation for personal courage that is demonstrated through his actions in this narrative. For example, he often refused to take shelter during air raids and frequently put himself in danger on rooftops where he watched air battles take place. Furthermore, those who met Churchill for the first time, such as American emissary Averell Harriman, were almost immediately impressed by Churchill's personal bravery. As Larson writes in Chapter 82: “Harriman joined Churchill for dinner […] and almost immediately gained a close-up appreciation for two things he so far had only heard about: what it was like to experience a major air raid and the sheer courage of the prime minister” (402-403). This quote demonstrates that courage was an...