Host Dennis Leap discusses key highlights from Chapter 5, “The Fourth Hussars,” in Winston Churchill’s memoir My Early Years 1874–1904. As this chapter opens, Winston is 21 years old. Having graduated from Sandhurst with honors, Winston is ready to take his place in the world. Colonel Brabazon, a family friend and commander of the Fourth Hussars, requests Winston come under his command. Winston is excited for such a move. Filled with a desire to go to war, Winston must learn to survive personal tragedies.

#313: Young Winston Wants to Go to War, Part 1

Just the Best Literature inspires you to not only read printed books, but to read only the best books. Besides books, host Dennis Leap will lead discussions on other current literature such as essays and important articles.

Arts

Literature

Performing Arts

Design

Food

Fashion & Beauty

Visual Arts

Books

Host Dennis Leap continues discussing Candice Millard’s book Hero of the Empire. In Chapter 2, Candice provides additional history on Winston Churchill’s desire for power and fame with his involvement in the British Empire’s war against the Mahdists in the Sudan. It was a war of great carnage, but Winston remained unscathed. “Nothing touched me,” he wrote two days after the Battle of Omdurman, in which the British lost 500 men and the Mahdists 20,000.

#332: The Graven Palm, Part 1

Host Dennis Leap continues discussing Candice Millard’s book Hero of the Empire. Candice opens Chapter 1 with a review of Winston’s early love of 1,500 toy soldiers and make-believe battles and then gives an in-depth discussion of the extant and success of the vast British Empire.

#331: The British Empire’s Vast Responsibilities

Host Dennis Leap begins discussing a new book on the life of Winston Churchill by author Candice Millard. Hero of the Empire gives us details of Churchill’s daring escape from prison in Pretoria, South Africa (the capital of the Boer Republic), while fighting in the Boer War and the making of his political career.

#330: Hero of the Empire

After fighting the bloodthirsty Pathans and getting reassigned to leading a Punjabi infantry (none spoke English), Winston attempts to get attached to the Malakand Field Force permanently. This did not happen, and he was sent back to his home base at Bangalore. In Chapter 13, Winston seeks to maneuver for a job in a new campaign in the Sudan under Sir Herbert Kitchener. However, he discovers that those who had previously been friendly and encouraging had turned against him. Those who once supported him were calling him a medal hunter and a self-advertiser. Winston has to learn to endure “the less amiable aspects of human nature.”

#328: Winston’s Prestige Is Destroyed by Hostile Attitudes

After fighting the bloodthirsty Pathans and getting reassigned to leading a Punjaubi infantry (where no one spoke English), Winston attempted to be attached to the Malakand Field Force permanently, but he was sent back to his home base at Bangalore. He began writing a book on his recent experience in the Mamund Valley, which became a published success. Receiving praise from the prince of Wales, Winston began to remake himself as an author.

#313: Young Winston Wants to Go to War, Part 1

Download our free app to listen on your phone