40TH READINGS AT CHARTWELL BOOKSELLERS

The eighth and final volume of the Official Churchill Biography,  NEVER DESPAIR (1945-1965 ),’  by Sir Martin Gilbert, was published in 1988, a culminating event that we celebrated with the author in a publishing party at the store. Begun by Churchill’s son Randolph (Volumes I and II),  The Official Biography  was completed (Volumes III-VIII) by Sir Martin Gilbert, whose great achievement it remai...

Lady Mary Soames, Winston Churchill’s youngest daughter, was a friend of Chartwell Booksellers from our inception. She dropped in often when she was in town, always unannounced, to check on sales of her books and sign copies. She was utterly down to earth and altogether charming. Her first authored work was a biography of her mother,  CLEMENTINE CHURCHILL , which came out in 1979, four years befor...

In 1986, Sir Martin Gilbert published  ROAD TO VICTORY  (1941-1945) , the seventh volume of his  Official Churchill Biography ; a great occasion that we marked with a publishing party at the store for the book and for Sir Martin.  Begun by Churchill’s son, Randolph (Volumes I and II),  The Official Biography  was completed (Volumes III-VIII) by Sir Martin Gilbert, whose great achievement it remain...

In 1985, Sir John Colville, Winston Churchill’s wartime Private Secretary, finally agreed  to the release of his never-intended-for-publication personal diaries. THE FRINGES OF POWER: 10 Downing Street Diaries 1939-1955  instantly became a classic and one of our earliest best-sellers. It remains so; a seminal work of Churchillian historical scholarship.  We are honored to present actor Daniel Gerr...

The most important book about Winston Churchill published in 1984, our second year of existence, was an encyclopedic three-volume set, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT: THE COMPLETE CORRESPONDENCE, edited by WARREN F. KIMBALL. We are delighted to present Mr. KIMBALL himself reading the opening exchanges from his monumental work of epistolary scholarship. On October 3, 1984, Chartwell Booksellers hosted i...

We are delighted to present 40th READINGS AT CHARTWELL BOOKSELLERS as a podcast, in celebration of our 40th Anniversary and the 40 best books about Winston Churchill published during the store's forty year existence. We begin with actor JOHN LITHGOW reading "THE LAST LION: Visions of Glory 1874-1932," by William Manchester. JOHN LITHGOW memorably played Winston Churchill in "THE...