This series provides critical studies of key political figures in world history since 1500. The books are not biographies, though inevitably they contain much biographical material; rather, they are interpretive essays, analyzing the major features of the career within the context of its own time. A great deal has been written about Churchill - much of it by Churchill himself - yet he is still seen as a distant figure to many in the late 20th century. The triumphs and tragedies of Churchill's career as a statesman are inseparable from those of the nation as a whole, spanning the climax and disintegration of the British Empire. Keith Robbins's review of his career is ultimately a study in failure, yet it shows this awkward genius, in defeat as well as victory, to have been surly the symbol and mirror for his age. This book is short and is a book which students can easily absorb and enjoy, though it is written at a serious scholarly level. It seeks to bring Churchill back into focus for a modern readership and provide a picture of the political landscapes through which he moved. It is aimed at upper sixth formers, undergraduates, general readership and should be useful as supplementary reading for all courses covering 20th century history.