The Last Titans: How Churchill and de Gaulle Saved Their Nations and Transformed the World
Richard Vinen
Mar 2026 · Simon and Schuster · Narrated by Charles Armstrong
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11 hr 54 min
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A compelling joint biography of Churchill and de Gaulle that shines new light on two of the greatest figures of the 20th century.
Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle were thrown together by the challenges of war. They incarnated the resistance of Britain and France to the existential threat from Nazi Germany, and their ultimate victory over Hitler has ensured their achievements will never be forgotten. But, as The Last Titans shows, that is only a small part of a complex story. Both men influenced their countries, and the world around them, long after the war was won.
De Gaulle—tall, gauche, charmless, and incorruptible—exhibited qualities often associated with the English. Churchill—short, charming, a bon vivant, and fond of money—resembled the quintessential politician of the French Third Republic. Their working relationship was rarely smooth, but they appreciated each other’s stature: de Gaulle said Churchill was “the great artist of a great history,” while Churchill recognized de Gaulle as “l'homme du destin.”
Richard Vinen explores what made these men exceptional and how profoundly they were influenced by their national cultures. Beyond personal intrigue, the book makes a wider point that Britain and France are both haunted by perceptions of past greatness. Vinen retraces the paths of two leaders who once helmed superpowers but lived to see their nations weakened by two world wars and the loss of empires.
Written with extraordinary narrative verve, The Last Titans offers a fresh exploration into the lives of de Gaulle and Churchill. By bringing their two stories into one, each man is seen afresh and we gain new insights into their achievements and their legacy today.
Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle were thrown together by the challenges of war. They incarnated the resistance of Britain and France to the existential threat from Nazi Germany, and their ultimate victory over Hitler has ensured their achievements will never be forgotten. But, as The Last Titans shows, that is only a small part of a complex story. Both men influenced their countries, and the world around them, long after the war was won.
De Gaulle—tall, gauche, charmless, and incorruptible—exhibited qualities often associated with the English. Churchill—short, charming, a bon vivant, and fond of money—resembled the quintessential politician of the French Third Republic. Their working relationship was rarely smooth, but they appreciated each other’s stature: de Gaulle said Churchill was “the great artist of a great history,” while Churchill recognized de Gaulle as “l'homme du destin.”
Richard Vinen explores what made these men exceptional and how profoundly they were influenced by their national cultures. Beyond personal intrigue, the book makes a wider point that Britain and France are both haunted by perceptions of past greatness. Vinen retraces the paths of two leaders who once helmed superpowers but lived to see their nations weakened by two world wars and the loss of empires.
Written with extraordinary narrative verve, The Last Titans offers a fresh exploration into the lives of de Gaulle and Churchill. By bringing their two stories into one, each man is seen afresh and we gain new insights into their achievements and their legacy today.
A compelling joint biography of Churchill and de Gaulle that shines new light on two of the greatest figures of the 20th century.
Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle were thrown together by the challenges of war. They incarnated the resistance of Britain and France to the existential threat ...
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About the author
Richard Vinen is professor of history at Kings College London. He was previously a fellow of Trinity College Cambridge and, more recently, an archive by-fellow at Churchill College Cambridge. He has written for The New York Times, TLS, The Guardian, The London Review of Books, The Boston Globe, The Independent, Financial Times, the Literary Review, and The Nation. He has appeared frequently on radio and television. He has published widely on British, French, and European history and, in 2015, won the Wolfson prize for history.
Richard Vinen is professor of history at Kings College London. He was previously a fellow of Trinity College Cambridge and, more recently, an archive by-fellow at Churchill College Cambridge. He has written for The New York Times, TLS, The Guardian, The London Review of Books, The Boston Globe, T...
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