This revisionist text tells the story of Churchill's political career, and how it developed, serving as he did, in both Conservative and Liberal governments. Charmley reassesses Churhcill's role in the Dardanelles fiasco, and describes his long climb back to power and influence. He also examines the human price which Churchill's ambition exacted from those around him, and attempts to show how and why the man created by the previous six decades, had the vision which he had in 1940 - and what its limits were.