Hero of the Empire by Candace Millard

The Locale: Lori's

The Book:  At age twenty-four, Winston Churchill was utterly convinced it was his destiny to become prime minister of England one day, despite the fact he had just lost his first election campaign for Parliament.  He believed that to achieve his goal he must do something spectacular on the battlefield.  Despite deliberately putting himself in extreme danger as a British Army officer in colonial wars in India and Sudan, and as a journalist covering a Cuban uprising against the Spanish, glory and fame had eluded him.

Churchill arrived in South Africa in 1899, valet and crates of vintage wine in tow, there to cover the brutal colonial war the British were fighting with Boer rebels. But just two weeks after his arrival, the soldiers he was accompanying on an armored train were ambushed, and Churchill was taken prisoner.  Remarkably, he pulled off a daring escape--but then had to traverse hundreds of miles of enemy territory, alone, with nothing but a crumpled wad of cash, four slabs of chocolate, and his wits to guide him.
            
The story of his escape is incredible enough, but then Churchill enlisted, returned to South Africa, fought in several battles, and ultimately liberated the men with whom he had been imprisoned.        

Churchill would later remark that this period, "could I have seen my future, was to lay the foundations of my later life." Millard spins an epic story of bravery, savagery, and chance encounters with a cast of historical characters—including Rudyard Kipling, Lord Kitchener, and Mohandas Gandhi—with whom he would later share the world stage. But Hero of the Empire is more than an adventure story, for the lessons Churchill took from the Boer War would profoundly affect 20th century history.
http://www.candicemillard.com/hero-of-the-empire.html

And You Deserve a Great Book Club Meeting!

Susan's Summary: Yes, Churchill greeted us as we came in the door at Lori's.  And Lori, as usual, was the consummate host. 

After the walking the door and seeing Churchill's stern face, we all needed a good stiff drink, which was actually quenched by a light, refreshing English Pimm's Cocktail, a concoction of Pimm's liqueur and lemonade, topped off with slices of orange AND cucumber.  Yes, cucumber.  It was delish and served in delightful Gay 90s glasses.

Photo credit Tassy Spinks.  : )

We spent the first hour catching up on kiddos and summer travels and eating a traditional, and again delish, English meal--Bangers & Mash, Mushy Peas, and Yorkshire Pudding.  Tassy, who had just returned from a juant across the pond to Great Britain, testified that nowhere in England could one get Mushy Peas as good as Lori's.  Turns out if you add enough cream and butter to just about anything, it will taste yummy.

Thanks, again, Tassy, for the pic.

After our delightful meal, conversation turned to the book, thanks to our host for making the smart seque.  I believe everyone like the book.  Several were suprised to find a non-fiction book so engaging, thanks to the writing of Candace Millard.  We got a kick out of Churchill's arrogance and that of the Bristish army, who preferred marching around in Red Coats and were quite miffed that the Boer's resorted to the ungentlemanly act of guerilla warfare, which didn't fit well with their Pimm and proper...I mean prim and proper way of fighting.

While we discussed the next meeting and next book, we ate a light and tasty dessert of homemade scones, strawberries, clotted cream, and lemon curd.  Lori's scones were fabulous.  

Thanks, Lori, for the pic and the sacrifice of a 2nd helping to get the shot.

Gina is looking at two dates for our next meeting, either August 18th or 25th, and will get back to us.  Whenever we do meet, it will be to discuss The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede.

Jana presented her three books, see below, and the winner was the one with the least amount of pages, Shrill.  I'd write that no one must of been in the mood for a long summer read, but the other two did get votes.  And it was close between Shrill and Prairie Fires.  We did take a 2nd vote so those who voted for The Agony and the Ecstasy could sway the choice.

And just an observation by the one who keeps up the blog, if you have a fav you want to win when you present, make it the last one on your list, as I promise you, book #3 typically wins.  Just saying.

The Vote: Gina presented... 

• The Agony and the Ecstasy by  Irving Stone 
• Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser
• Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman by Lindy West  WINS!!  

Up Next: The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede @ Gina's on either August 18th or 25th.


Next to Present: Susan H.

Then: 

• Sarah
• Jessica
• Kristine
• Holly
• Tassy
• Jolynda
• Brenda
• Susan
• Gina
• Jana
• Susan H.