Who is the author of The Splendid and the Vile?

The author of The Splendid and the Vile is Erik Larson.

Politics

The Splendid and the Vile Book Summary - The Splendid and the Vile Book explained in key points

Listen to the Intro

00:00

The Splendid and the Vile summary

Name: The Splendid and the Vile
Rating: 4.7 (124 reviews)
Author: Erik Larson

Erik Larson

A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz

4.7 (124 ratings)

35 mins

Brief summary

'The Splendid and the Vile' by Erik Larson is a gripping account of Winston Churchill's first year as Prime Minister of the UK during WWII. It highlights his leadership and personal life, as well as the resilience of the British people in the face of constant danger and adversity.

Topics

Political Figures Wars UK Politics

Table of Contents

The Splendid and the Vile
Summary of 11 key ideas

Audio & text in the Blinkist app

Key idea 1 of 11

What’s in it for me? A rollicking history of Churchill’s first year in power and the Blitz.

Winston Churchill couldn’t have come to power at a more pivotal moment in Britain’s history. Europe had watched with alarm as Hitler’s Germany ascended. The Nazis had built up a superior fighting force. And then they expanded, aggressively. First, they occupied Czechoslovakia and Poland. Then came Norway, Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg. If your government crossed the Führer, terrifying aerial bombardment was inevitable.

But Brits had one thing to comfort them: Germany was far away. Even the Germans’ new planes couldn’t haul thousand-pound bombs all the way to Britain. Of course, that would change if the Germans occupied France. But France had a powerful army and navy; its fall was unimaginable.

Less than a week into Churchill’s tenure as prime minister, the unimaginable became reality: Germany invaded France. Thus began a crisis that would turn Churchill into one of the twentieth century’s most influential figures.

In these blinks, you’ll learn

the trick Churchill knew from day one would win the war;
how a Nazi official took extreme measures to broker peace with the UK; and
how Churchill gave President Roosevelt one of the wildest strategy meetings of his life.

From day one, Churchill was clear on his goal: getting American help.

By May 1940, the writing was on the wall. The Nazi army had invaded France, Britain’s ally. War was coming to the British people, whether they liked it or not.

Churchill came to power after Parliament passed a vote of no confidence in Neville Chamberlain, who had tried to appease Hitler’s expansionist tendencies. It was a scary time for the UK. Any observer would have said that Britain had no chance against the massive Nazi war machine. But unlike Chamberlain – and essentially everyone else – Churchill was brazenly confident that Britain could win the coming war.

Now all Churchill had to do was convince his country and, just as importantly, US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt that the UK had a chance. Churchill knew he couldn’t win the war without the Americans.

The key message here is: From day one, Churchill was clear on his goal: getting American help.

For their part, the Americans weren’t at all interested in sending their young men, yet again, to the battlefields of Europe. The US government was also leery of working with Churchill. “Apparently,” said the secretary of the interior, “he is very unreliable under the influence of drink.”

It’s true that Churchill did things differently. For one thing, he favored working during his twice-daily bath. If the phone rang while he was in the bath, he would climb naked and dripping from the tub to retrieve it from his private secretary. At all hours, he would pad through the halls of the official residence in brilliantly flowered dressing gowns, stabbing a dead cigar in the air when he wanted to make a point.

The British people loved him, and he took their trust seriously. His first speech to the House of Commons demonstrated his signature oratory style: a sober appraisal of facts followed by reason for measured optimism. “I have nothing to offer,” he said, “but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.”

Despite the grim state of affairs, his government was imbued with energy from day one. Everyone, from the lowest secretary to the highest minister, was pulling in the same direction – stop Germany from invading England, and win the war. Respectable civil servants could actually be seen running through the corridors to their appointments.

The new resolve Churchill brought to his office didn’t come a moment too soon. Things were about to get a lot worse.

A heroic grassroots rescue gave Britain the morale boost it needed for the fight ahead.

The picture was already gloomy enough with the Nazis battling the French on their home turf. But their forces seemed well matched. The French had a powerful military. And they had the Maginot Line, a physical barrier of fortifications that was said to be impenetrable.

But then the unimaginable happened. The Germans broke through the French line. Nazi forces poured into France, and Allied troops went into chaotic, scrambling retreat. The French president called Churchill. “We have been defeated,” he said. After a stunned silence, Churchill replied: “Surely it can’t have happened so soon?”

With England bracing for invasion, aerial combat would decide the country’s fate.

In May 1940, it was widely accepted that Germany had the ability to bomb England to the point of surrender. Hitler’s brutal, ambitious, and energetic deputy Hermann Gӧring had built up the Luftwaffe from nothing. He had made it the most powerful air force in the world.

For one thing, it had four times the number of fighter planes as England. What’s more, its planes and bombs were just plain better. The Stuka plane looked like a giant, terrifying flying insect; it carried 4,000-pound explosives, nicknamed Satan bombs, that could destroy a city block.

As aerial combat raged overhead, Churchill courted Roosevelt for naval support until he got what he wanted.

As France surrendered, Churchill sent one of the most important messages of his life – to Roosevelt. More was at stake, Churchill wrote, than France or Britain. A United States of Europe under Nazi rule was very much a possibility. He asked Roosevelt for destroyer ships, calling it a matter of life or death.

But Churchill had to walk a very fine line with Roosevelt. He had to communicate the gravity of the situation, but not make Britain’s fight seem like a lost cause.

An accidental bombing of London started the next phase of the aerial war.

Luftwaffe commander Hermann Gӧring was getting some bad intel. Intelligence lead Beppo Schmid had convinced him that the RAF was already badly mauled. This contradicted reports from German pilots, who saw a different picture in combat. But the reports convinced Hitler to send the Luftwaffe on a major strike against the RAF. They called the operation Adlertag – Eagle Day.

It didn’t go well for the Nazis. The weather was so bad on the first day that Gӧring had to call off the operation almost right away. The planes that did make it over found a belligerent RAF defense – not at all what they had expected. The RAF had discovered that German Stuka planes were weakest when making dives, and they exploited this to great advantage. The RAF consistently shot down twice as many planes as it lost.

German bombs made living in London a terrifying experience.

In retaliation for the attacks on Berlin, Hitler ordered the first intentional hit on London. Gӧring was delighted at the opportunity to punish Britain for humiliating the Luftwaffe. He came up with a plan called “the Destruction of London.” Goebbels predicted it would be the greatest catastrophe in human history.

Not everyone in Nazi command was happy about the clash between Britain and Germany. Take Hitler’s former first deputy, Rudolf Hess. He saw the Brits and Germans as racial allies. So he began trying to arrange a peace deal with Britain, via a backchannel.

The terror of imminent invasion had eased, but the bombardment was worse than ever.

As the weather cooled, a German invasion became a bit less likely. Referring to Hitler, Churchill wrote: “The gent has taken off his clothes and put on his bathing suit, but the water is getting colder and there is an autumn nip in the air.”

Sure enough, Hitler had further postponed Operation Sea Lion; the RAF was too much of a threat. He was eager for a project he felt he could win, so he turned east. He’d long dreamed of defeating Russian Bolshevism. Hitler thought it would be easy, especially compared to a cross-Channel invasion of Britain. He cast aside his misgivings about a two-front war. He called his new plan Operation Barbarossa.

Roosevelt finally began responding to Churchill’s overtures – and not a moment too soon.

Meanwhile, Churchill continued courting the Americans. Roosevelt received Churchill’s latest missive while on a fishing holiday in the Caribbean. He took several days to think about it, then made up his mind: he would act, in earnest.

In his Christmastime address to Americans – one of his famous “Fireside Chats” – Roosevelt demonstrated his commitment to the British cause. He used the word “Nazi” for the first time. If Britain were defeated, he said, America would be living at the point of a gun.

As the Americans got more involved, bad news kept coming across the Channel.

Hopkins called Churchill at the Prime Ministerial country house on March 11, 1941. Roosevelt’s Lend-Lease Plan had passed in the US Congress. It gave Britain access to American destroyers and provided crucial symbolic support.

This put Churchill in a celebratory mood. He put on his favorite outfit, a baby blue one-piece romper of his own design, and played military marches on the gramophone. Brandishing a big-game rifle, he executed a series of rifle drills and bayonet maneuvers. He looked like a fierce, pale blue Easter egg gone to war. Onlookers wondered what Hitler would have made of this demonstration of skill at arms.

The worst bombing of the Blitz coincided with one of its strangest events.

While hundreds of aircraft massed over the channel, Rudolf Hess, the third-ranking Nazi official, was still convinced he could broker a peace deal with the UK. It took him four attempts to fly to Scotland. After memorizing maps, consulting his horoscope, and carefully packing his extensive collection of medical paraphernalia, he set off in a German plane. He gave his deputy letters to be delivered to his wife and Hitler.

Five hours later, Hess was almost out of fuel and lost over Scotland. He bailed out of his plane into a farmer’s field. Then, he waited patiently to be taken into police custody. He declined the farmer’s offer of tea, but accepted a glass of water.

Hitler’s Operation Barbarossa ended the threat of invasion and became a critical turning point in the war.

The bombing deeply affected London, but the city endured. Between September 7, 1940 and May 11, 1941, nearly 29,000 Londoners were killed and over 28,000 seriously injured. Throughout the UK, the death toll was over 44,000, including 5,000 children.

But no bombers came the night after May 11, or the night after that. The raids began to die down. In May, throughout the UK, German raids killed over 5,600 people. By December, the monthly death toll was down to 37. Churchill and the British people had convinced Hitler they weren’t going to give up easily.

Want to see all full key ideas from The Splendid and the Vile?

Key ideas in The Splendid and the Vile

More knowledge in less time

Read or listen

Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.

Find your next read

Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.

Shortcasts ^New

We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

What is The Splendid and the Vile about?

The Splendid and the Vile (2020) is a meticulously researched account of Winston Churchill’s first year of leadership. Beginning in 1940, he led the country through France’s surrender, the miraculous rescue at Dunkirk, and the Nazi air force’s bombing blitz of the UK, which killed over 44,000 Brits. Through it all, he retained his sense of humor and charming eccentricities that ensure him a fond place in our collective memory.

The Splendid and the Vile Review

The Splendid and the Vile (2020) by Erik Larson is a captivating account of Winston Churchill's leadership during WWII. Here's why this book is a must-read:

Packed with fascinating historical details, it provides a vivid portrayal of Churchill's courage and resilience in the face of adversity.
By weaving together diaries, letters, and firsthand accounts, the book offers a nuanced perspective on the impact of the war on everyday life in Britain.
With its compelling storytelling and meticulous research, it brings to life the complexities of wartime politics and the human spirit in the face of great challenges.

Who should read The Splendid and the Vile?

World War II nerds
People interested in eccentric histories
Anyone curious about Winston Churchill’s legacy

About the Author

Erik Larson is an American journalist and the author of five best sellers, which have collectively sold 9 million copies. His other notable titles include Devil In The White City and Thunderstruck.

Categories with The Splendid and the Vile

Politics History

Book summaries like The Splendid and the Vile

The Prime Ministers

Steve Richards

Reflections on Leadership from Wilson to May

25 min

4.3

Questions I Am Asked About The Holocaust

Hédi Fried

A survivor’s account of Auschwitz

Britain and Europe From Churchill to Blair

Unbroken by Four Decades in Solitary Confinement. My Story of Transformation and Hope

The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II

How Napoleon Conquered Europe and Changed the World

Europe Between Hitler and Stalin

27 min

4.4

Man’s Search for Meaning

Viktor Frankl

The harrowing experiences of the author in a concentration camp

Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive

The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health

Living the Ten Principles of Stoicism

China's Rise, Russia's Invasion, and America's Struggle to Defend the West

A Historical Novel on the Irrationality of Human Behavior in War

How to Win at Dating, Marriage, and Sex

Why We Eat When We're Not Hungry and How to Stop

Dig Deep into Democracy and Dictatorship

5 min

3.8

The Last of the Mohicans

James Fenimore Cooper

Struggle, Love, and Adventure Unfold

The intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir by the former First Lady of the United States

36 min

4.5

The House of Hidden Meanings

RuPaul

A Memoir

20 min

Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

Insights from an American Polymath

A Philosophical Journey Into Alienation

22 min

4.5

The Catcher in the Rye

J.D. Salinger

A Coming-Of-Age Classic on Belonging and Teenage Alienation

18 min

4.3

Emotional Intelligence

Beyond the Pleasure Principle

Sigmund Freud

Delve Into Unconscious Desires

6 min

4.0

Killing the Rising Sun

Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard

How America Vanquished World War II Japan

Be Authentic, Boost Connections, and Make Bold Bets on Yourself

Journey Through Elon Musk’s Visionary Mind

Getting Up to Speed Quickly in Today’s Ever-Changing Sales World

How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict

A Timeless Tale Where Love Conquers Societal Norms

A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

A Guide to Loving and Taking Care of Self

The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8 A.M.)

Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life.

22 min

4.5

That Little Voice in Your Head

Mo Gawdat

Adjust the Code That Runs Your Brain

20 min

4.5

A City on Mars

Kelly Weinersmith & Zach Weinersmith

Can we settle space, should we settle space, and have we really thought this through?

20 min

3.5

Sun Tzu and the Art of Business

Mark R. McNeilly

Six Strategic Principles for Managers

17 min

4.5

The Third Perspective

Africa Brooke

Brave Expression in the Age of Intolerance

15 min

Moore’s Law

Arnold Thackray

The Life of Gordon Moore, Silicon Valley’s Quiet Revolutionary

The Scientific Approach to Getting Healthier as You Get Older

20 min

4.1

AI 2041

Kai-Fu Lee and Chen Qiufan

Ten Visions for Our Future

The Science and Art of Longevity

An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

25 min

4.6

Briefly Perfectly Human

Alua Arthur

Making an Authentic Life by Getting Real about the End

17 min

Partnering

Jean Oelwang

How to Forge the Deep Connections That Make Great Things Happen

26 min

4.2

The Origins of Totalitarianism

Hannah Arendt

Hannah Arendt's landmark work about Europe's anti-Semitic and imperialist roots

A Young Prince’s Tragic Descend Into Madness and Revenge

24 min

4.8

How to Think Like a Roman Emperor

Donald Robertson

The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius

Philosophical Insights on Death

4 min

4.3

People ❤️ Blinkist

Sven O.

It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

Thi Viet Quynh N.

Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

Jonathan A.

Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

Renee D.

Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.