Henry Campbell Bannerman

Among many close personal friendships that Churchill enjoyed in political and military life, one of the more unlikely was with a former foe, the South African statesman Jan Christian Smuts. Richard Steyn has offered a plethora of new information and insights in a readable account of this important friendship.

The Liberal Party's enlightened ideas on taxation and liberty were understood by Churchill, Hill writes: but not, unfortunately, by many of his colleagues.

Attracted by the works of Henry George, the young Churchill asked: Can justice only be achieved at the expense of individual liberty?