Description

‘If you had assumed you knew everything about these two men of destiny, Richard Vinen’s shrewd, provocative book will make you think again’ DOMINIC SANDBROOK, THE TIMES BEST BOOKS OF 2025
‘Offers shrewd and sometimes original insights on both men’ MAX HASTINGS, SUNDAY TIMES
‘Deeply researched yet highly readable, with fresh and often provocative insights’ DAVID REYNOLDS

A compelling dual biography of Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle that shines new light on two of the greatest figures of the twentieth century.

Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle were thrown together by war. Their triumph over Hitler ensured their achievements will never be forgotten. But their story is far richer than victory alone.

De Gaulle – tall, awkward and incorruptible – had traits often associated with the English. Churchill – short, witty and charming – was a true French-style politician. Their working relationship was rarely smooth, but mutual respect ran deep despite their differences.

In this brilliantly absorbing account, prize-winning historian Richard Vinen casts new light on these exceptional men and the nations they led. By weaving their two stories into one, The Last Titans offers a fresh and exhilarating exploration into who they were, what they accomplished and the legacies they left behind.

Publisher Review

Deeply researched yet highly readable, with fresh and often provocative insights — David Reynolds, author of MIRRORS OF GREATNESS: CHURCHILL AND THE LEADERS WHO SHAPED HIM Offers shrewd and sometimes original insights on both men … Makes a thoughtful addition to the vast literature about both his subjects — Max Hastings * Sunday Times * A lively and engaging account of two giants of twentieth century politics. By bringing these two extraordinary lives together, Vinen provides fresh insights into the characters and attitudes of Churchill and de Gaulle, successfully conveying their charisma, eccentricity and historical significance — David Gauke, former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Highly readable … [Vinen] draws the two men with a sure touch, their personal interactions a mix of mutual suspicion and admiration — Margaret MacMillan * Observer * Do we really need another book on either Churchill or de Gaulle? Yes indeed – when it is as compelling as The Last Titans. Here is a vivid and shrewd reckoning, backed by Richard Vinen’s mastery of the historical sources, and now setting its assessment in the perspective of today’s troubled world — Peter Clarke, author of HOPE AND GLORY: BRITAIN 1900-2000 An enthralling, penetrating portrait of two fascinating figures – and their countries – in times of war and peace — Jonathan Fenby, author of THE GENERAL: CHARLES DE GAULLE AND THE FRANCE HE SAVED Churchill and de Gaulle were the towering figures of Britain and France during the Second World War, but they had complicated attitudes towards their own countries, just as those countries were deeply ambivalent about them. In this outstanding dual biography, Richard Vinen employs all his characteristic insight and wit in a gripping examination of the lives of these extraordinary men — Alan Allport, author of BRITAIN AT BAY: THE EPIC STORY OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR: 1938-1941 Vinen skilfully teases out the similarities as well as the differences between his subjects … This neat juxtaposition is a good example of Vinen’s analytical technique, which is fortified with extensive original research … He provides what is most needed: insight * Literary Review * Richard Vinen’s intriguing and deeply researched biography of the leaders credited with snatching victory from defeat during the second world war is well-timed — Philip Stephens * Financial Times * A joint biography heightens each man’s characteristics … Vinen gives a stimulating account; and the comparison isn’t always to Churchill’s advantage * London Standard * Richard Vinen has had the excellent idea of writing a parallel biography of [Churchill and de Gaulle]…As a historian of both France and Britain, Vinen is well suited to this task. His lively book has a keen eye for quirky facts that have escaped others — Julian Jackson * Times Literary Supplement * What a fabulous book this is! Erudite and lucidly written, it’s a pleasure to read from start to finish… Vinen is particularly astute when it comes to illustrating the men’s differences… [His] book is full of perceptive observations and telling anecdotes that were new to this reader… This is a very fine and thoughtful study that provides valuable insight right up until the final page * History of War * If you had assumed you knew everything about these two men of destiny, Richard Vinen’s shrewd, provocative book will make you think again. He’s excellent at digging beneath the stereotypes, and has an enviable gift for a telling phrase: the young Churchill “left Britain as Billy Bunter and came back as Richard Hannay”, while de Gaulle “knew that France was no longer a great power and sometimes seemed to feel that his most important duty was to conceal this fact from the French people” — Dominic Sandbrook * The Times Best Books of 2025 * By examining this pair of towering figures through the lens of their long association, Vinen manages to shed light on both men – a notable achievement in a crowded field — Matthew Hefler * Engelsberg Ideas Books of the Year 2025 *