Working With Winston, Cita Stelzer
Working With Winston, Cita Stelzer
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Working With Winston
The Unsung Women Behind Britain's Greatest Statesman

Author: Cita Stelzer

Narrator: Susie Berneis

Unabridged: 12 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/13/2020


Synopsis

All politicians adopt a public persona that they believe contributes to electoral success. Although those personas might reflect the character of the politician, they reveal only a part of the man: we know far less about the characteristics politicians reveal when they are out of the public eye, and Winston Churchill is no exception. Although much has been written about Churchill and the important world leaders, politicians, and high-ranking military personnel with whom he interacted, little has been written about Churchill in relation to the vast staff he required in order to maintain the intense pace at which he worked. When Churchill strode the world stage, the secretarial and support staff positions were inevitably filled by women. Though extraordinarily talented and valuable to Churchill and his work, these women remain unheralded. Churchill was not an easy employer. He was intimidating, with never-ending demands, and he would impose his relentless and demanding schedules on those around him. And yet these women were devoted to himalthough there were times in his political career during which he was decidedly unpopular. Many reflect upon their years working for him as the best years of their lives. Intelligent and hard-working, these women were far from sycophants. Just as Churchill was no ordinary Prime Minister, these women were not ordinary secretaries. Indeed, in todays terms, their titles would be much grander, as their work encompassed handling ultra-secret documents and decrypting and reading enemy codes.

About Cita Stelzer

Cita Stelzer received her bachelor's degree from Barnard College with a major in history and went on to work in educational publishing. An advisor to the Churchill Archives Centre of Churchill College in Cambridge, she also serves as a member of the Board of Advisors of the International Churchill Society. Her first book, Dinner with Churchill, was published in 2011.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Mandy on August 06, 2020

Interesting insight into the work of Churchill told through his many secretaries. Portraying a man who never stopped working, was motivated, demanding and compassionate. So much so they would return work for him at busy periods ie his birthday.......more

Goodreads review by Cindy B. on May 19, 2021

Kindly remembrances of the ladies surrounding Sir W. Interesting and informative re: a man that I, apparently, knew little about personally. Good reading and fulfilling in the lack of disappointment. Well narrated.......more

Goodreads review by Daniel on May 28, 2023

We'll call this a solid 3.5 stars. Not all the stories of the various secretaries lit a fire under my world, and there is some natural duplication. But other stories are full of interesting new details about Winston & Clementine Churchill, and it adds an extra layer to an already familiar tale.......more

Goodreads review by Joan on April 12, 2021

Enjoyed this book very much.if your a fan of W .Churchill you will too,all about the women who worked with him over his long career,they were so strong...had to be... and completely loyal to him. 5 *......more