The Last Titans

How Churchill and de Gaulle Saved Their Nations and Transformed the World

By: Richard Vinen

Narrated by: Charles Armstrong

A compelling dual biography of Winston Churchill and Charles 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 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 part of a complex story. Both men influenced their countries, and the world around them, long after the war was won.

There was a paradox in the parallel and intertwined lives of these extraordinary men. De Gaulle—tall, gauche, and incorruptible—exhibited qualities often associated with the English. Churchill—short, charming, witty, and a bon vivant—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, Vinen makes a wider point that Britain and France are both haunted by perceptions of past greatness. He 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 anew and we gain fresh insights into their achievements and their legacy today.

Critic reviews

"Vinen’s book makes a thoughtful addition to the vast literature about both his subjects."
—Max Hastings, The Sunday Times

"Richard Vinen’s study of two very different but similarly stubborn national figureheads is intriguing, deeply researched and very well-timed."
—Philip Stephens, Financial Times

"An enthralling, penetrating portrait of two fascinating figures – and their countries – in times of war and peace."
—Jonathan Fenby, author of The General: Charles de Gaulle and the France He Saved

"Highly readable… He draws the two men with a sure touch, their personal interactions a mix of mutual suspicion and admiration."
—The Observer

"An exemplary dual biography delving into two leaders who shepherded their countries through the consequential Second World War."
—Seattle Book Review

"Vinen skilfully teases out the similarities as well as the difference between his subjects.… This neat juxtaposition is a good example of Vinen’s analytical technique, which is fortified with extensive original research.... He provides what is most needed: insight."
—Literary Review

"By bringing their extraordinary lives together, Vinen provides fresh insights into the characters and attitudes of Churchill and de Gaulle ... A lively and engaging account of two giants of twentieth-century politics."
—David Gauke, former Lord Chancellor and UK Secretary of State for Justice

"In this outstanding dual biography, Richard Vinen employs all his characteristic insight and wit in a gripping examination of the lives of these extraordinary men."
— Alan Allport, author of Britain at Bay: The Epic Story of the Second World War: 1938 –1941

"A vivid and shrewd reckoning, backed by Vinen’s mastery of the historical sources, which sets its assessment in the perspective of today’s troubled world’."
—Peter Clarke, author of Hope and Glory: Britain 1900 –2000

"A rare grandiloquent title that is not hyperbole. A superb page-turner."
—Kirkus (starred review)