Rock throwing, shit-kicking historian makes good. Except in Oxford where his missiles & missives hit too many dons in the head. Interesting read about that follows Taylor's ideas about the context of pre-WWII : socialism, communism, Russia, Versailles wrongs to Germany, righting those wrongs (called appeasement), German expansionism as a national goal--not just a Hitlerian one, and then the post-war era: Stalinism, Hungarian Revolt, Ban the Bombers, and on and on. Details of his TV and newspaper stardom and his crisp, clean composition methods--he just sat down (or walked around) and did it.

Many details of his complicated home/social life, two concurrent "wives," tight-fisted relationships, and apparent butt-kissing of Lord Beaverbrook.

Bought this bio after being impressed with Taylor's histories of Bismarck, Habsburgs. You should read those, too. ( )