Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson (Review)
My lovely and thoughtful daughter, Lydia, bought me this book as a gift. Her class had just studied government, and she learned that Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy. Knowing my love of politics, she wanted to give me a book on constitutional monarchies, and the Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson was her selection. Given my strong distaste for anything monarchical, it proved an appropriate selection, since the book focuses entirely on Prime Minister Churchill and his leadership during World War II. The monarchy may receive the adoration, but the constitution’s empowerment of its prime minister made for an excellent read.
Over the years, I have read a number of books on WWII and its key players, yet Larson’s book added something quite new for me: a composite of journal entries from Londoners during the war. Larson embedded the excerpts with seamless dexterity into the larger story. The effect was to give far more texture to the tumult. It is somewhat detached to read about Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and other leaders who were typically far away from the fighting. The journals added insight that made WWII seem more palpable and exciting.
The effect was humanizing for a war that can seem both distant and larger than life. This insight is not just generally for WWII but specifically for Winston Churchill. He is another historical figure who sometimes seems more like a caricature instead of a man. Larson gave great insight into who Churchill was, what he faced, and how he responded. The effect is an excellent book that I recommend, particularly for readers who enjoy history but avoid the 700- to 1000-page tomes of Doris Kearns Goodwin and Ron Chernow.
Before giving my additional observations, I want to call attention to one of Larson’s chapter titles. He titled Chapter 12, “The Ghosts of Dull People,” which is such a fantastic chapter title and generally just a great phrase. I would pick up a book with that tile. Anyway, here are my further thoughts on The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz:
As Dunkirk was unfolding and still looking bleak, Churchill gave a speech to the other British ministers indicating there could be no treaty or parlay with Hitler—only a fight to the end was left. Here Larson observed Churchill’s gift at “making people feel loftier, stronger, and above all, more courageous.” His was an aspirational persona, looking to be more than what seemed possible.
I had not previously heard about the sinking of the Lancastria after the French surrender to Germany. As with so many efforts to keep secrets, the news eventually came out when the New York Times reported the incident. The effect of Britain’s attempt at censorship was to build distrust among its citizens. This occasion highlights two important points: (1) keeping large-scale secrets is nearly impossible and (2) you are better off owning the message and shaping it rather than hoping the secret will remain hidden.
Churchill wrote a memo entitled, “Brevity,” asking his ministers to write more succinctly and highlight the main points to avoid wasting time. He observed that the resulting reports may seem rough, but—in addition to saving time—“the discipline of setting out the real points concisely will prove an aid to clear thinking.” This objective is too often minimized in the workplace and beyond.
As the war with England escalated, Göring and Hitler’s lies became increasingly audacious. Both maintained that Germany only bombed military targets. Yet the Nazis began releasing mines via parachutes over London, which drifted wherever the winds took them. It seems very Trumpian to tell lies that are so easily refuted, and—like today—there was little recourse for the deceit.
Hearing how Lord Beaverbrook (Max Aitken) was the confidant for Winston Churchill reminded me of how Harry Hopkins was the confidant of FDR. It would be interesting to give a historical juxtaposition of the two men and their respective roles in the context of World War II.
Larson’s description of how people ignored the rampage of Germany’s bombing seems eerily familiar to people ignoring the effects of Covid-19. Mary Churchill was supposed to dance at the Café de Paris, but it was bombed before she arrived. Not knowing why her path to the club was blocked, she went elsewhere and danced at a different place. Once she found out about the disaster, she wrote, “Oh, it was so gay our party...and suddenly it all seemed wrong & a mockery.” She continued, “But now—it is real—the Café de Paris hit—many fatal & serious casualties. They were all dancing & laughing just like us. They are all gone now in a moment from all we know to the vast, infinite unknown.” It is easy to ignore that which we don’t like.
A novelist, Rose Macaulay lost her entire book collection and captured her feelings in the most heartbreaking manner: “I keep think of one thing I loved after another, with a fresh stab. I wish I could go abroad and stay there, then I shouldn’t miss my things so much, but it can’t be. I loved my books so much, and can never replace them.” This sequence made me think of when the British burned the Library of Congress and Jefferson donated his personal library—a generous gesture that still leaves great loss. Macauley later wrote, “One keeps on remembering some odd little book that one had; one can’t list them all, and it is best to forget them now that they are ashes.”
Larson’s book is not hagiography; it shows Churchill’s warts. I offer this preface for the following observations on Churchill’s leadership. Ian Jacob, a military war secretary under Churchill wrote, “What we know is that the Prime Minister provided leadership of such outstanding quality that people almost reveled in the dangers of the situation and gloried in standing alone.” One Londoner wrote, Winston’s speeches send all sorts of thrills racing up and down my veins and I feel fit to tackle the largest Hun!” One acquaintance told Churchill that his greatest feat was giving the people courage. To which Churchill replied, “I never gave them courage; I was able to focus theirs.” Needless to say, it is hard not to be impressed by Churchill’s leadership through a most trying time.
Göring’s unrepentance after his conviction at the Nuremberg trials seems quite consistent with Nietzsche: he saw no need to apologize to people he saw as lesser and beneath him.
As suggested above, The Splendid and the Vile gave me greater understanding about what an average citizen experienced as the bombs fell on London. Larson added a perspective that I had not looked at in my previous reading, and it made for a worthwhile and fast-paced read. I recommend his book and look forward to more books by Erik Larson.
