August 13, 2013

Finest Hour 125, Winter 2004-05

Page 41

A Dream of a Book by Levenger

The Dream, by Sir Winston Churchill. Introduction by Richard M. Langworth. Afterword by Winston S. Churchill. Levenger Press, 2005, 68 pages, leatherbound, $48.

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By Mim Harrison

It was Sir Winston’s first posthumous work, appearing in The Sunday Telegraph in 1966, a short story recounting a dream he might have had—or perhaps always had—about his father, Lord Randolph. The Dream is Churchill’s most poignant work and his most personal, the picture of a leader who could stand up to the greatest threat against liberty, but who felt he could never measure up to his father’s expectations.

It was reproduced in volume eight of Sir Martin Gilbert’s biography and has been privately printed by The Churchill Centre on two occasions. One of these was especially commissioned by grandson Winston S. Churchill to present to members of the family celebrating “the author of our being.” This new leatherbound edition by Levenger Press marks the reappearance of The Dream as a stand-alone book and the first to be offered publicly.

Buttressing it are an afterword by Mr. Churchill, recounting some of his childhood memories of his grandfather, and an introduction by Finest Hour editor Richard Langworth that offers a detailed historical overview.

Langworth’s introduction answers every question that readers might have about the politics of the age, from who “Dizzy” was (Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli) to the significance of the “franchise” (the right to vote—even for women). As editor of the Levenger Press, I wanted this edition to have the same timeless quality as the father-and-son theme so that it would resonate with successive generations. In years to come, when new inductees into the Churchill legacy discover this book, they will have the benefit of its historical context.

Churchill wrote The Dream in 1947. In the story, Lord Randolph appears to Winston while his son is painting in his studio at Chartwell. Winston is 73; Lord Randolph is the age he was when he died: 46. What, his father wants to know, has Winston done with his life?

In the recounting, a masterful and typical Churchillian narrative of 20th century history, the son never does find an opportunity to tell his father that he saved the country they both cherish, even though the way of life they both loved was gone forever.

Levenger Press has produced the book in an eight-by-eight-inch format on a cream stock, with silver foil stamping on the blue leather binding. The image on the cover is a drawing by Sarah Churchill of her father. On the endpapers is a reproduction of a letter that a young Winston wrote to his “dear Papa.”

The Dream is scheduled to be released in May, in time to be a Father’s Day gift. It will be available only from Levenger. Call 800-544-0880 or visit Levengerpress.com.