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诺贝尔文学奖得主、英国前首相丘吉尔全景式历史巨著 入选美国“当代文库100”20世纪百大英文非小说

“一项文学奖本来意在把荣誉给予作者,而这一次却相反,是作者给了这项文学奖以荣誉。”

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　——瑞典文学院院士在为丘吉尔颁发诺贝尔奖时致辞

“在黑暗的年代里,他的言语以及与之相应的行动,唤起了世界各地千百万人们心中的信念和希望……在人类冲突的领域里,以前还从未发生过这样的事：如此众多的人都应该深深地感激一个人。”

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 ——瑞典文学院院士利列斯特兰德

“这确实是一本伟大的书,它撼动了人们的心灵,并为这段影响历史的过程留下了忠实记录。”

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　——《西部邮讯》

“何其幸运,我们拥有这些珍贵的财产,它将会流传后世,让后人们阅读再三。”

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　——查尔斯?韦博斯爵士

第二次世界大战回忆录是前英国首相温斯顿?丘吉尔在第二次世界大战刚结束之后著作的六部书。他以二战时期英国首相的亲身经历,并引用大量政府文件和个人纪录,记述1930年代初到二战结束期间的主要国际事件,尤其是英国的政治和军事活动。

全书按事件发生时间分为六册：

第一卷《风云紧急》The Gathering Storm（1919年-1940年5月）

第二卷《最光辉的时刻》The Finest Hour（1940年5月-1940年底）

第三卷《伟大的同盟》The Grand Alliance（1941年）

第四卷《命运的关键》The Hinge of Fate（1942年-1943年5月）

第五卷《紧缩包围圈》Closing the Ring（1943年6月-1944年6月）

第六卷《胜利与悲剧》Triumph and Tragedy（1944年6月 -1945年8月世界大战结束）

　　1941年上半年,英国仍在北非、地中海、中东和大西洋上孤军奋战,损失军舰和商船共300万吨之巨,情势非常危急。罗斯福决定在冰岛设立基地,由美军参与护航。

　　4月13日,日苏签定中立条约；美日间有关太平洋问题的谈判却毫无进展,因为美方坚持日本先从中国撤兵。

　　6月22日,苏联突遭德军袭击,顷刻间西部边界就被全线突破,损失惨重。丘吉尔当初预期德、苏必将开战的时刻,终于到来。英国向苏军输送军火物资,改变了英国孤立作战的情势。

　　7月起,美国大力供应英苏所需军火；8月份,英、美通过“大西洋宪章”,奠定日后建立联合国的思想基础。

　　12月7日,日军偷袭珍珠港,重创美国太平洋舰队,德国向美国宣战,美国正式参战。丘吉尔所设想的英、美、苏三国的伟大联盟终于实现。

Book Description

Winston Churchill's six-volume history of the cataclysm that swept the world remains the definitive history of the Second World War. Lucid, dramatic, remarkable both for its breadth and sweep and for its sense of personal involvement, it is universally acknowledged as a magnificent reconstruction and is an enduring, compelling work that led to his being awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. Closing the Ring chronicles the period between June 1943 and July 1944 as the Allies consolidated their gains towards a drive to victory the fall of Mussolini, Hitler's secret weapon', the mounting air offensive on Germany, strategies to defeat Japan and the plans for D Day.

About Author

Winston S. Churchill

An English political leader and author of the twentieth century; he became prime minister shortly after World War II began and served through the end of the war in Europe. Churchill symbolized the fierce determination of the British to resist conquest by the Germans under Adolf Hitler. He forged a close alliance with Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States and Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union in opposition to Germany. Stunningly defeated in elections in 1945, he returned to office as prime minister for several years in the 1950s.

Churchill was known for his fine oratory. When he became prime minister, he said, “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.” Concerning the British airmen who fought in the Battle of Britain, he said, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” He originated the phrase “Iron Curtain.” As an author, he is especially remembered for two histories, A History of the English-Speaking Peoples and The Second World War.

Churchill's appearance was distinctive, with his bowler hat, cigars, portly frame, balding head, and two-finger “V for Victory” sign.