In 1986, Sir Martin Gilbert published ROAD TO VICTORY (1941-1945), the seventh volume of his Official Churchill Biography; a great occasion that we marked with a publishing party at the store for the book and for Sir Martin.

Begun by Churchill’s son, Randolph (Volumes I and II), The Official Biography was completed (Volumes III-VIII) by Sir Martin Gilbert, whose great achievement it remains — the ultimate source work about Winston Churchill and the longest biography ever written (the actual Guinness record holder).

We sadly lost Sir Martin in 2015 — one of Chartwell Booksellers’ greatest friends and an inspiration to the store always. We are honored to have his widow as our next guest reader, ESTHER, LADY GILBERT, for ROAD TO VICTORY.

ROAD TO VICTORY (1941-1945) commences with Winston Churchill learning of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and concludes with his celebration of V-E Day in London on May 8, 1945, and the end of the war in Europe. It is the first of two volumes of The Official Biography that we were privileged to premiere at Chartwell Booksellers.