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Hero of the Empire
Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill | Candice Millard
From New York Times bestselling author of Destiny of the Republic and The River of Doubt, a thrilling narrative of Winston Churchill's extraordinary and little-known exploits during the Boer War 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 Boer War would profoundly affect 20th century history. From the Hardcover edition.
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Nebklvr
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Mehso-so

Not my favorite by Millard. For an escape story, it was a bit slow and plodding.

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KristiAhlers
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Pickpick

Wow! First in America we aren't taught much about this conflict so I came in with a little knowledge conflict wise...but little to nothing about Churchills involvement. This man was so daring and audacious at the same time. This reads like a fast paced thriller...not what it is a very informative #nonfiction read. Highly recommend this one. #bookspin @thearomaofbooks

MommyWantsToReadHerBook Hmmm sounds interesting and I'd never heard of Churchill's involvement, but I think it would make me too angry to read. Interesting how the people controlling the narrative get to call the other side "rebels" - and I suppose they damn well were! From the description the book sounds very pro-colonialism and Kitchener was a horrible man with the blood of countless women and children on his hsnfd 14mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Great review!! 14mo
46 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Bookwormjillk
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Pickpick

An interesting and not always flattering look at Churchill during the Boer War. #ReadingAfrica

This was good on audio but it annoys me that when ever a woman writes a history book the audiobook is always narrated by a man.

Librarybelle I love Candice Millard! I didn‘t read this one yet, but I‘m anxiously waiting for her next one coming out this year! 3y
Bookwormjillk @Librarybelle I didn‘t know that! Cool! 3y
52 likes2 comments
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SirReadsalot1776
Pickpick

Although it took longer to get into than her pervious works, Hero of the Empire is still a fascinating story. It show cases a young Winston Churchill and his courageous and vain exploits during the Boer War.

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GinEyre22
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So @bookandcat clued me in that August is Harry Potter themed #newtsreadathon2018 reading challenge which gives me another opportunity to create another challenge layout

bookandcat Looking good! 6y
Reviewsbylola Wow, looks awesome!! 6y
25 likes2 comments
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GinEyre22
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July's Reading Stats

Smangela Oh my gosh you read a TON of books in July! 6y
21 likes1 comment
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GinEyre22
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August's TBR and Read planner bookshelves

keys_on_fire Did you make that? 6y
britt_brooke Love it!! 6y
GinEyre22 @keys_on_fire I downloaded the template from the internet a few years ago and print them out once a month 6y
33 likes3 comments
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GinEyre22
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July's TBR and Read planner bookshelves

SamanthaMarie Woah, love this!!! 6y
26 likes1 comment
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Markblum
Pickpick

With so much interest in Churchill and the Darkest Hour, this book provides an account of Churchill's youthful search for fame and honor.

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SailorJohn
Pickpick

Fun read. You learn a lot about the young man who became a world leader.

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Mdargusch
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Books about England and the English are big in my family. And my husband collects English soldiers too. #🇬🇧 #emojinov

merelybookish I love the soldiers! 7y
rubyslippersreads Great photo! 7y
See All 11 Comments
emilyhaldi Love this!! 🇬🇧 7y
Hollie A student a couple of semesters ago gave me Elizabeth. I haven‘t read it yet, but I was touched by her gesture! 7y
LeahBergen I love the soldiers. ❤️❤️❤️ 7y
Mdargusch I️ read I️t a long time ago @Hollie and I️ don‘t remember much but I️ love reading about all the royalty. 7y
Mdargusch Thanks! @LeahBergen - he has a whole army! 7y
Reviewsbylola Love the soldiers! 7y
LeahBergen @Mdargusch I have 7 or 8 US Civil War ones. 😄 7y
Mdargusch That‘s so cool @LeahBergen ! I️ remember there was a little, cramped soldier store in New Orleans that I️ bet was full of those. 7y
94 likes11 comments
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Aswenson
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Pickpick

Just finished this audiobook. I'm torn. Excellent writing and story flow, but Churchill is hard to like off the bat. One of his lifelong female friends said this, "The first time you meet Winston you see all his faults, and the rest of your life you spend discovering his virtues."
I was left wanting to learn more about Churchill and the Boer Wars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2

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Aswenson
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😁 Just found a $50 iTunes gift card in the 'kitchen counter stuff' pile... and newly realized I don't have to buy music with it. Yesssssssss. 📚

Victoria_C Gee my kitchen counter pile is more likely to turn up a bill! 8y
Aswenson @Victoria_C Hubby didn't even know where it came from... just the book fairy I guess! 8y
14 likes2 comments
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AlexGeorge
Pickpick

This was a terrific, swashbuckling read. Millard brings the story to life with real verve, and the impression one gets if the young Churchill is unforgettable. Not especially flattering, perhaps, but unforgettable.

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Victoria_C
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Mehso-so

Entertaining but I didn't find it near as good as Destiny of the Republic.

Aswenson Have you read River of Doubt? I loved that and bought this one on audiobook because of it. Hope it's not a letdown. 🙂 8y
Victoria_C @Aswenson I have not read that one. Started once but didn't finish before I had to return it to the library. You might enjoy the Churchill one, though. 8y
9 likes2 comments
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AlexGeorge
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Candice Millard is speaking at the Unbound Book Festival next April. Just jumped into this, and I'm already hooked.

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emilygatlin
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Picked up signed first editions from Square Books today to finish up my Christmas shopping. I have to wonder if my relatives are ever like, "UGH OF COURSE IT'S ANOTHER BOOK..."

saresmoore I got Big Bad Breakfast as a gift, too! Was it a @MrBook recommendation? And as far as relatives are concerned—I believe a book is the perfect gift! 8y
emilygatlin @saresmoore I've known John Currence for a long time! Why am I not surprised @MrBook loves BBB? (His first cookbook is also SUPER!) 8y
saresmoore That's awesome! I will check out his first cookbook! 8y
MrBook @saresmoore @emilygatlin 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙌🏻! Yessss! BBB is one of my #TBRtemptation showcased books 😎👌🏻! #KindredSpirits Looooooove JC food! 8y
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charliemarlowe
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Pickpick

This is my signed copy from BN's Black Friday sale!

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Lissa00
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Pickpick

This books tells the story of Winston Churchill's participation in the Boer Wars in South Africa, his capture, imprisonment and daring escape. This is not my favorite of this author's books but it was still really, really good.

StacksNShelves I've wanted to read this. Great to know that it was a good read for you. 8y
74 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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Lissa00
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Evening reading🌲📚🍷

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AllisonMP
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Pickpick

Don't really have a stronger writer recommendation than immediately going out of the house to the library for the paper book when I finished the last one of hers then discovered they didn't have the electronic version of this new one.

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Purplerosiepage
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Pickpick

I knew very little of Winston Churchill's early life and even less about the Boer War. This micro history was informative and engaging. I highly, highly recommend it on audio.

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Purplerosiepage
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When I was a senior in high school, I had to read 900 outside pages per quarter for my AP World Lit class, and it.was.so.hard- probably because I couldn't read anything fun, like Harry Potter.

I wish current me could go back in time and tell 18 year old me that it's not that hard.

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GoneFishing

I don't like this fellow, but he'll be prime minister of England one day.

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Darthdad
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A little lunch time reading! Churchill's early years are quite the fascinating study.

10 likes1 stack add
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Darthdad
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My wife and Kids's stopped by the library on the way home from the airport and found this fabulous display of books!

Wonder Woman's collection is fabulous!

RealLifeReading 😂😂 8y
Eyelit Ok, that's actually hilarious 😂 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa 😱😂😂😂That's really cute! 8y
16 likes3 comments
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JacintaMCarter
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Mehso-so

The parts that focused on Churchill and his attempts to escape from the prison camp were interesting. The parts that detailed what else was happening during the war, not quite as interesting.

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Bibliosue
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I saw Candice Millard speak tonight about this book and look forward to reading it

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JacintaMCarter
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This week's #TBRTuesday consists of two books as homework, one ARC that I need to get around to finishing, and a handful of #NetGalley reads that are on my computer. And of course it chose this moment to do a super slow update.

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Jennie748
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Mehso-so

This was okay, but not as gripping as Destiny for me.

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JacintaMCarter
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21 likes1 comment
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dolleygurl
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That moment...when you realize that an author you have been dying to know what they are coming out with next...has a new book...out today!!!

2 likes2 stack adds
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Darthdad
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I've loved Candice Millard's previous books! Can't wait to dive into this one.

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Anniepie120
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Pickpick

Should be a good one!

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JacintaMCarter
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I won an ARC through @shelfawareness and @DoubledayBooks
Can't wait to start this one!

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BethFishReads
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Happy to see this in my mail today. I love biography and enjoy Millard's style, even if she does spell her name wrong 😉

28 likes2 stack adds