Dinner With Churchill: Policy Making at the Dinner Table Paperback – Illustrated, December 11, 2013

This was a gift for an elderly gentleman when he was quite ill! I was pleased that he enjoyed it!

Of any person that has lived in the 20th century no other person has been written and studied more than Winston Spencer Churchill. Between Churchill's wide oeuvre of writing as well as his speeches and quotations, one can quite easily see why many people consider Churchill to be the man of the 20th century. Most of Winston's accomplishments occurred in the 20th century but in essence the way to prominence of Churchill represents that deep down inside he was a British Victorian who lived under the auspices of the chivalry of a gentleman of the 19th century. Cita Stelzer has brought forward a new way of looking at the life of this extraordinary man. The old saying of "You are what you eat" can be applied to the sighting in on the lifestyle and intentions of Churchill as done by Stelzer. The author not only goes into detail of Churchill's palate's likes and dislikes, he shows the art form of high entertainment with men and women of eclectic cultures. Stelzer shows to us how Churchill used the art and persuasion of fine dining in using his powers to exercise his politics and influence the world for the better. The author shows to us that Churchill put much effort in not only the state dinners he attended, but also the influences he brought forward on daily lunches and even picnics in the open air with his military leaders in Europe and Africa. This introspective study of high life diners and lunches also studies the other social habits which coincided with these events. Stelzer goes into detail about Churchill's drinking habits as well as his well-known smoking of expensive Cuban cigars. The legends of Churchill's drinking habits are studied and clarified which will dispel the rumors of Churchill being a raging alcoholic. Along with Winston's drinking habits, Stelzer goes into Churchill's cigar smoking habits. Both Winston's drinking and smoking habits are dovetailed into his dining and entertaining way of life. His dining habits reflect not only politics but also his wit and humor to people who associated with him. In effect what Stelzer shows to us was that Winston Churchill not only revels in the traditions and benefits of fine dining, but also how Churchill tended to use these events to have people being persuaded to see Churchill's political policies in a much enlightened perspective. Politics as seen from Churchill's points of view is shown to us also as satisfying the palate and filling the stomach. Stelzer brings forth to us most of the great dinners Churchill had attended and how his actions affected world politics. This was a highly interesting book which looking at the life and Churchill from a different and unusual perspective. Fine dining shows to us was used to forming high politics.

The author’s purports to show the importance of Churchill’s dinners to his diplomacy, but is somewhat weak in developing this part of the book. On the other hand the book does reveal Churchill’s gastronomic taste. Eating, drinking and smoking habits were part of Churchill’s persona in his later years. The book covers these areas in great detail. Stelzer keeps pointing out that WSC followed the 19th century manner of formal dining with fancy china and cutlery and multiple courses. All dinners were working dinners, they had a purpose. Stelzer discuss how meticulous WSC was in planning his dinners from menu to sitting placement. He also worked and planned the conversation for the meal almost as much as he did his speeches. The author also emphases Churchill’s wit and humor along with his impeccable manners. She also states she was surprise to learn that Churchill loved picnics. Stelzer states that WSC liked roast beef, Johnny Walker Red or Black Label whiskey, Pol Rogers champagne, Havana cigars and consommé soups. He liked most foods except he disliked creamed soups. Little new is revealed about Churchill, however, it is well written and lots of entertaining trivia is provided. The book is easy to read and is very enjoyable. Oh, how I would have loved to have been a guest at one of his dinners. I read this as an e-book on my Kindle app for my iPad.

Despite the enormous amount of literature that has focussed on virtually every aspect of Winston Churchill's illustrious life and career, I believe that this is the only volume that concentrates on his dining habits, particularly as regards his "dinner diplomacy", his talent for using meals as a political instrument to achieve his goals.Not surprisingly, most of the table talk takes place during the Second World War. Ms. Stelzer describes the menus, the wines, the guests and the topics of conversation in light, somewhat inelegant, prose that still manages to hold the reader's attention.Having squeezed nearly every drop out of the war years, Ms. Stelzer finishes off the text with supplementary chapters on Churchill's special preferences in food, spirits and, of course, cigars. Though somewhat less captivating, they will still provide the Churchill aficionado with a few more good anecdotes.In all, this new work is a genuinely entertaining addition to the Churchill literature and is even more enjoyable accompanied by a large cigar and double Cognac. My only real complaint is that the coarse paper and grainy photographs give the book a rather amateurish appearance.

This is an interesting (and important, at least to Churchill) angle on a part of Winston's life.He was the consummate politician, schemer, persuader, and host and he loved to have dinner where he could usually monopolize the conversation and fill the seats with interesting people who might contribute to the conversation and provide an interesting time for all as well as good food and an abundance of drink and cigars or cigarettes.The book if full of menus, which are of great interest, as well as photographs of the haunts of Churchill in London and many other photographs as he ate his way through three continents and three United States presidents, and, for the most part, enjoyed every bite and sip of it.It is an entertaining book. You don't have to worry about grand strategies, beat off the revisionist historians hostile to WSC or contend with the many who still admire this icon of the 20th century. It is a nice, quick, read.

I am busy reading this book at present and am enjoying it. (I always enjoy reading books about Churchill) However,I have been disappointed not to be able to read the documents included as they are so feint on the kindle. I would imagine they must be more readable on paper.

Very interesting book - only paid 1 p plus postage - real bargain coated to almost £9.00 at the shop .

I am just reading it but it is most interresting.

Excellent

Author managed to get an astonishing number of meal menus! And she was particularly good at explaining why Churchill liked to use meals for his diplomacy.