**The second volume of William Manchester's masterful account of
Winston Churchill's life.
Alone is the second volume of William Manchester's brilliant
three-volume biography of Winston Churchill. In this volume, we witness
the war within, before the colossal war to come. During this period,
Churchill was tested as few men are: relentlessly pursued by creditors,
disowned by his own party, vociferously dismissed by the press as a
warmonger, and twice nearly lost his seat in Parliament. Yet despite his
personal and political troubles, Churchill managed to assemble a vast,
underground intelligence network-both within the British government and
on the continent-which provided him with more complete and accurate
information on Germany than the British government. Recognizing the
horrifying truth, Churchill stood almost alone against Nazi aggression
and the sordid British and French policy of appeasement.
Manchester's luminous portrait never loses sight of Churchill the man-a
man with limitations, especially his callousness toward others
(including his supporters) and his recklessness, which could border on
the foolhardy; but also a man whose vision was global and whose courage
was boundless. Here is Churchill as a light in the approaching darkness,
readying himself for the terrible stand to come.