The Splendid And The Vile

I just finished reading The Splendid and the Vile, Eric Larson's latest book about Winston Churchill and the UK during the Blitz. Larson writes non-fiction history, but in a style that makes it seem like a novel, which I really enjoy. When I first started this book, it seemed to drag on a bit, with a large section devoted to a new German radar system that accurately located bombing targets. However, once the book began to focus on the Blitz, the story became very engrossing, and a real page-turner until the end. The book not only focuses on Churchill, but on his family and acquaintances, the English people's lives during the Blitz, and the heroes behind the scenes, who were vital to the nation's survival. I have never heard of Lord Beaverbrook, but he was appointed by his good friend Churchill to head the Ministry of Aircraft Production, which he made instrumental in providing the planes that helped save Britain. It took forever to get this book from the Denver Public Library, but it was well worth the wait. I definitely recommend reading it, no matter how long it takes to get a copy.