Mary S. Lovell brilliantly recounts the triumphant political and
military campaigns, domestic tragedies, happy marriages, and disastrous
unions throughout generations of Churchills.
The first Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722) was a soldier of such genius
that a lavish palace, Blenheim, was built to honor his triumphs.
Succeeding generations of Churchills sometimes achieved distinction but
also included profligates and womanizers and were saddled with the
ruinous upkeep of Blenheim. The Churchills were an extraordinary family,
and they were connected with everyone who mattered in Britain. Winston
Churchill--voted the Greatest Briton in a nationwide poll--dominates
them all.