1942: Britain on the Brink: Winston Churchill and Britain’s Darkest Hour

Historian Downing (1983) documents in this revealing study of WWII-era England how “military disasters led to political crises and the near collapse of public morale.” After replacing Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in May 1940, Winston Churchill helped buoy Britons’ spirits during the Battle of Britain and the Blitz while managing British forces engaged in clashes in Africa, Asia, and the Atlantic. Churchill hoped America’s entry into the war after Pearl Harbor would bring relief, but Downing shows that things got much worse before they got better. From attempting to provide Russia with supplies through shipping lanes filled with German destroyers and U-boats, to slowing Erwin Rommel’s advance across North Africa and battling Japanese forces for Singapore, Britain was stretched to its breaking point. Downing details how a series of crushing losses, including the surrenders of Singapore in February 1942 and the Libyan port city of Tobruk in June 1942, led “to a widespread feeling that Winston Churchill was no longer the right man to lead the nation.” Though extended discussions of logistical details slow the narrative somewhat, Downing sheds intriguing light on just how close Churchill was to losing his grip on power. The result is a persuasive reminder things are often darkest before the dawn. (Oct.)