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There are currently 20 member reviews
for Lady Clementine
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Lois P. (Hillsborough, NC)
The Woman Behind the Man
Marie Benedict helps the reader form an important intimate relationship with an entirely original historical character. As unique as Winston Churchill was, his Lady was as strong-willed and powerful as a woman could be in her time. Benedict shows Clementine's sense of historical relevance in all that she does.
Not afraid to show Clementine's self perceived weaknesses, such as her failure as a mother to her older children, Marie Benedict helps the reader know and appreciate Lady Churchill in her own right . My regret is that she didn't tell me more.
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Borderlass (Belmont MA)
Believable Thoughts, Significant Events....
Author Marie Benedict provides a clear and accessible read with her engaging first-person narrative of Lady Clementine's life covering the period 1908 to 1945. In this work of historical fiction, she carefully constructs believable thoughts and significant events in the life of wife and true partner of Sir Winston Churchill - one of the world's preeminent democracy defenders and military strategists of the 20th Century. Her special role in the Battle of Britain gets well-deserved attention here. The book - perhaps attributable to problems inherent in the first-person narrative voice - seemingly gives little to no emphasis on Winston's notorious drinking and its impact on her. Despite this seemingly "glossed over" area, this is an appealing account of a remarkable woman who rises to meet the demands of her partner, her country, and her very own emotional challenges, and should prove interesting to readers of womens' literature, WWII history, admirers of the Churchills and Eleanor Roosevelt, and anyone wishing to learn more about the interplay of personalities on the world stage.
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Peggy A. (Fairfax, VA)
Lady Clementine
I really enjoyed reading about Winston and his wife, Clementine and their families. To me, the author presents their personalities in ways I would not have thought to be.
Some parts of the book became slow reading but it held my interest enough to finish the book.
This book has inspired me to read more about the Churchills and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to other readers of historical fiction.
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Carol C. (Troy, NY)
Lady Clementine
Lady Clementine, a novel as opposed to a biography, portrays Clementine as the person who molded Winston Churchill into the leader he became, the behind-the-scenes adviser in both personal and political matters. The book focuses on the years from their meeting and marriage to the end of World War II, moving from one important date to the next. I enjoyed the book, but it left me with a desire to know more about her life, and a desire to seek out a full biography of Clementine.
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Debra C. (Vienna, GA)
LADY CLEMENTINE: Britain's Steel Magnolia
"The Crown" generated my interest in the Churchill family, and Benedict's LADY CLEMENTINE provided compelling insights regarding the personal and political struggles and successes of this intriguing couple. Well written and researched, Benedict captures the intimate and intricate details of the Churchill family as Britain is enmeshed in WW II. She engages the reader as a witness to, not only Winston's courage and strengths , but also the vigor, intuitiveness, and unwavering faith displayed by Clementine. Without Benedict's novel, Winston's secret weapon would remain just that...a secret. Thank you for exposing the beautiful story of a strong willed couple whose sacrifices, intensity, love of country and each other is to be admired.
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Janet H. (Long Beach, CA)
For History Buffs
Lady Clementine, by Marie Benedict is an unusual look at WW l and WW ll history from the perspective of Winston Churchill's wife, Clementine. The book is written in her voice. She is a smart, ambitious woman who appears, at times, discontent to ride on his coat tails. I found her voice off putting at times; she sounded self-important, and that became tedious. It took longer than expected to work my way through this book. I recommend Lady Clementine to those who want to learn more about WW ll from an unusual perspective.
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