40TH READINGS AT CHARTWELL BOOKSELLERS

Chartwell Booksellers•www.chartwellbooksellers.com

40TH READINGS AT CHARTWELL BOOKSELLERS toasts the best 40 books about Winston Churchill published during our forty-year existence, with guest readers -- including actors, like John Lithgow; members of the Churchill family; or the authors themselves -- reading the first pages of a new book every month.

Last refreshed: July 26th, 2025 at 11:43 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

06 - ESTHER, LADY GILBERT READS "NEVER DESPAIR"

The eighth and final volume of the Official Churchill Biography, NEVER DESPAIR (1945-1965 ),’ by Sir Martin Gilbert, was published in 1988, a culminating event that we celebrated with the author in a publishing party at the store. 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 published (the actu...

Jul 03, 2024•8 min•Season 1Ep. 6

05 - RUPER SOAMES READS "THE PROFLIGATE DUKE"

Lady Mary Soames, Winston Churchill’s youngest daughter, was a friend of Chartwell Booksellers from our inception. She dropped in often when she was in town, always unannounced, to check on sales of her books and sign copies. She was utterly down to earth and altogether charming. Her first authored work was a biography of her mother, CLEMENTINE CHURCHILL , which came out in 1979, four years before we opened. We have carried it continuously ever after. She followed this with a delightfully offbea...

Jun 03, 2024•8 min•Season 1Ep. 5

04 - ESTHER, LADY GILBERT READS "ROAD TO VICTORY"

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 Gu...

Apr 23, 2024•5 min•Season 1Ep. 4

03 - DANIEL GERROLL READS "THE FRINGES OF POWER"

In 1985, Sir John Colville, Winston Churchill’s wartime Private Secretary, finally agreed to the release of his never-intended-for-publication personal diaries. THE FRINGES OF POWER: 10 Downing Street Diaries 1939-1955 instantly became a classic and one of our earliest best-sellers. It remains so; a seminal work of Churchillian historical scholarship. We are honored to present actor Daniel Gerroll reading the opening entries from Sir John Colville’s THE FRINGES OF POWER ....

Mar 26, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 3

02 - WARREN KIMBALL READS "CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT: THE COMPLETE CORRESPONDENCE"

The most important book about Winston Churchill published in 1984, our second year of existence, was an encyclopedic three-volume set, CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT: THE COMPLETE CORRESPONDENCE, edited by WARREN F. KIMBALL. We are delighted to present Mr. KIMBALL himself reading the opening exchanges from his monumental work of epistolary scholarship. On October 3, 1984, Chartwell Booksellers hosted its first-ever in-store Churchill event, a publication party for CHURCHILL & ROOSEVELT: THE COMPL...

Feb 27, 2024•6 min•Season 1Ep. 2

01 - JOHN LITHGOW READS "THE LAST LION"

We are delighted to present 40th READINGS AT CHARTWELL BOOKSELLERS as a podcast, in celebration of our 40th Anniversary and the 40 best books about Winston Churchill published during the store's forty year existence. We begin with actor JOHN LITHGOW reading "THE LAST LION: Visions of Glory 1874-1932," by William Manchester. JOHN LITHGOW memorably played Winston Churchill in "THE CROWN." On April 11, 1983, Chartwell Booksellers opened its doors in the Park Avenue Plaza building, here in NYC. One ...

Feb 01, 2024•12 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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