The second book of Churchill's six detailing the history of the Second World War. He offers a unique perspective, as the only leader of a major power in the conflict to share his (exhaustive) personal recollections. Less opinionated in the sense of political score settling than the first book, The Gathering Storm. While a history, it is "his story." He describes some of the moments of victory in the face of almost certain defeat. His speeches at various moments (after the Dunkirk evacuation, after the Fall of France, in tribute to the Battle of Britain) still resonate as rhetorical masterpieces, losing none of their inspiration tone (and indeed gaining in some ways, when one appreciates how close Britain was to losing). Despite some shortcomings form a historical perspective, a masterpiece.