Winston Churchill was one of the most prolific writers in modern history - war leader, prime minister, statesman, poet, historian, literary critic and essayist, Churchill was a force to be reckoned with in his time and left a vast legacy of reflective writing and diaries, letters to rulers and politicians, historical works - all primary historical sources written from the man at the centre of the British Establishment throughout two world wars and beyond. Set in the context of the experiences of the ordinary man and woman in the trenches and at home available from the First World War Archive, you have a rare opportunity to read history in the words of those who lived through it.
Seeing the world through the eyes of the Establishment
One thing History remembers about Winston Churchill is that he wrote. A lot. He once appeared in Parliament with a speech that ran for hours, opening with an apology for having written so long a speech, for he had not had the time to write a shorter one. What he might have sometimes lacked in brevity, he made up for in drive, energy and prolific output. Writing to monarchs, journaling, and running first a war and then the country, he was never backwards in coming forwards with his opinion, and with access to The Churchill Archive, you can search, read and draw upon the wealth of first hand reflections, letters, and state documents he produced over his illustrious and long career as a politician, historian, literary critic, and statesman.
Explore the Churchill Archive
The Churchill Archive is a digital library of modern international history comprising more than 800,000 pages of original documents, produced between 1874 and 1965, ranging from Churchill’s personal correspondence to his official exchanges with kings, presidents, politicians, and military leaders. This is more than a fantastic collection of primary source material; it is a unique online resource offering new insight into a fascinating period of our past.
Watching the War through the eyes of the common man -and woman
Complementing the view from the top of society is our database of primary sources covering personal experiences and visual perspectives and narratives from the common men and women - archival records opening a window onto daily routines, life in the trenches, equipment and warfare, training and friendships, death, health, and medicine, as well as how individuals saw the enemy.
Our collection also includes unique visual and documentary resources from the Imperial War Museums, showcase subjects as diverse as the role of women during the First World War, the British Home Front, industry and economy, social organisation and volunteering, education, entertainment, religion and spiritualism, rationing and diet, families, demobilisation, and celebration.