...written in crisp, hard prose, which has crisp hard-thinking behind it... A valuable addition to our crowded shelves of Churchilliana.

Books and Bookmen

...much fresh information on the sources of Churchill's prophetic speeches.

International Herald Tribune

...a lucid and insightful distillation of Gilbert's detailed official biography. It is a welcome book, always addressed to the critical questions, and from the first wholly and unabashed sympathetic to Churchill's position. This fine book reinforces what can be the only reasonable view of political life in Britain in the 1930s.

Michael Heskett, Houston Chronicle

...a timely study of how democracy allowed considerations of political convenience and budgetary "necessity" to control defence policy.

George F. Will, Washington Post

Dealing with Churchill's years out of government, when he was vigorously critical of its policy of inaction and appeasement, the book is a crisp, readable narrative for the general reader.

Library Journal

The public owes a great debt to Martin Gilbert for producing this book... This more concise account of Churchill's long period out of office - 1929-39 - lacks nothing.

Contemporary Review