Mary Soames (1922–2014)

Well, that was an interesting book about the wife of Winston Churchill, written in minute detail by her youngest daughter.
This book centers on the intense correspondence between husband and wife. My first thought was.... where on Earth did they keep all these letters for over 50 years of marriage. Also, Clementine might have been a very friendly, helpful person, but you still can not compare her with the "normal" women of her time, because most of them did not have the time or means to write their husbands multiple letters (and telegrams) each day. The Churchills were able to always have the help of nannies, secretaries, cooks, etc. to take care of all of these mundane daily chores. I was also surprised to read how often they went on trips (some in GB, but many overseas) and they thought nothing of leaving their children in the care of others for many weeks.… (mehr)

Mary Churchill was the youngest child born to Winston and Clementine Churchill. Using her married name, Mary Soames, she has written this most interesting story, often using her diaries for reference. The book covers her life as a young child, her education and eventually her war service, and also the lives of her parents and siblings, including covering the intensely busy years of her father's political career until he became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and his influences on the years of World War Two. I recommend this story to those interested in this important period in our history.… (mehr)

Mary Soames, born in 1922, is the only surviving child of Winston and Clementine Churchill. This memoir covers her early life and the war years, up to the defeat of Churchill's government in the 1945 election. Her father, normally shown as a gruff, serious statesman is portrayed here as a tender affectionate family man. Soames' interest in the times and the events that had such a profound effect on so many makes her point of view an interesting one. She is able to provide an intimate background to events that are familiar to history and the entire memoir is written from a very different perspective than the more formal accounts we usually see. As an gunner in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, she accompanied her father as his ADC on several overseas journeys, including the Quebec Conference with President Roosevelt and Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King, and the Potsdam Conference with Truman and Stalin. Although this is essentially Mary Churchill's story, it naturally involves the life and times of her parents, particularly her father. Much of the text is taken from Soames' diaries giving it a refreshingly youthful tone and a family intimacy that makes it all the more interesting. I really enjoyed this charming memoir and can recommend it highly to anyone interested in the subject.… (mehr)

This book is the story of Clementine Churchill, wife of the legendary Winston Churchill written by their daughter.

If follows Clementine until she marries Churchill and then follows both of them as a dual biography and works in the the story of their children. It is an insightful look into the lives the Churchill's. Their legacy and impact on the 20th century was huge and understanding them and their times is worthwhile.

A couple random things that stood out to me, the suffragettes were surprisingly annoying with some of their outrageous behavior. Clementine had a rich suitor for four years that she accepted his friendship, a flower a day, his gifts, traveled with him. But never loved him. How sad for him. :(

Clementine, while close to her husband, and at times close to her children as they became adults, had few close relationships with anyone outside of Winston. How sad!

"Winston and his life filled Clementine's whole existence, and when she was well and in good form she neither desired nor needed other companions or distraction. But when she was low and fretted, and her "batteries needed recharging", it was often difficult to find a good solution. As her daughters grew up, she turned to each one and found company and companionship. But daughters soon have their own lives, careers, husbands, and children. Clementine's diffidence in personal relationships made her hesitate to propose herself to other people, because she was to shy and could not bring herself to to be a little more natural and carefree in her approach. Thus in a life full of people, she knew much loneliness."


This book is a biography of not merely the facts about these people, but it records their emotional relationship as found in their letters and through the eyes of their daughter. This subject was not really something that I caught/or saw growing up. My last serious relationship showed me how much I needed to learn in this area and seeing how Winston and Clementine found in each other such rest and assurance was educational.

While the author portrays her parents in a overall positive light she also notes their flaws as people and relationships. This is not hagiography.… (mehr)