Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill
by Candice Millard
“It was not in his nature to pass up any opportunity, especially if it might give him and edge, and put his life in danger.”
“Although Churchill had been called many things – opportunist, braggart, blowhard – no one had ever questioned his bravery.”
There is no shortage of Winston Churchill books. For a multi-volume examination of his life, one cannot go wrong with William Manchester’s The Last Lion. Martin Gilbert’s Churchill: A Life is a good single volume account. Even Churchill himself was a prolific writer. His six-volume account of World War II has been on my to-read list for years. That said, one of my more enjoyable ways to learn about historical figures is through examining specific episodes in their lives. Churchill was a colorful and interesting character, center stage for the defining events of the early 20th Century. Unsurprisingly, memorable episodes abound. Luckily for posterity, Churchill wrote often and was a tireless self-promoter. This rich historical record combined with one of my favorite narrative non-fiction writers, Candice Millard, results in an exciting and compelling book about one of Churchill’s most formative early experiences. Churchill knew, from his earliest years, he was destined for greatness. He looked for any opportunity to advance himself, make a name for himself, and even distinguish himself in battle. Fearing inaction and irrelevance more than personal danger, Churchill sought out dangerous situations. And that makes for a remarkable story.
Hero of the Empire tells the story of Churchill’s escape from a POW Camp in Pretoria during the Boar War. Churchill, a former Army Officer, traveled to South Africa as a war correspondent in 1899 at the war’s beginning. Looking to get close to the action, Churchill boarded a train heading to the front lines. When the train was attacked, Churchill took charge, acting more like a combatant than a civilian. After the bloody skirmish, he was captured and marched to a POW camp with surrendered British soldiers. Spoiler Alert! He survived and escaped, making his way to freedom. It is a thrilling story that sheds light into Churchill as a person, his motivations, and the forces that contributed to his future persona.
Candice Millard is a master of narrative non-fiction. She sprinkles the right amount of history and context into her books. We gain insight into the motivations and backstory of the Boars, the South African colonies, and the events which shaped the larger conflict. Just as she did in her other books, The River of Doubt and Destiny of the Republic, Millard has a knack of finding a small but interesting event, telling a great story, and layering it over a broader historical narrative.
One word Millard uses over and over is ‘opportunity.’ Churchill had an innate talent not only for identifying opportunities but also taking advantage of those opportunities to further his goals. Churchill knew he was “meant to do something great with his life” and after valiantly fighting in India and Sudan, an opportunity presented itself and he ran for a seat in Parliament. Although he lost, Churchill vowed to find something else to distinguish himself. An opportunity arose as a journalist to cover the Boar War. In South Africa, he jumped at the opportunity to get closer to the front line and the fighting. When attacked, he took the opportunity to lead the defense against a Boar attack. Once captured, he sought every opportunity to escape, pouncing when it came. Was Churchill an opportunist? Absolutely! 100%. But when he saw opportunities to advance his goals, he took action. His escape from the Boer prison led to Parliament and 40 years later, despite setbacks, Prime Minister.
We all have goals and aspirations. We all have things we’d like to accomplish. But how often do you let opportunities pass by? When an opportunity is presented, do you notice? Do you know what an opportunity looks like? If there is one thing I gleaned from this book, it is the importance of recognizing when opportunities are presented and acting. Sitting around waiting does no good. Opportunities beget action. Action begets results. That is how goals are achieved.