As a psychologist I find it of interest that Clementine Churchill, wife of Winston, and Clarissa, wife of Anthony, both had problematic paternities. In those days of country house parties and before contraception there was a lot of corridor creeping.
They both married Prime Ministers and were both strong characters. Clarissa would have shaped Anthony Eden’s career to a greater extent if he had been PM for longer. Clementine married Winston in 1908 when he had been an MP since 1904 and was about to become President of the Board of Trade aged thirty-three, the youngest member of the Cabinet since 1866. He was a public figure in any case because of his Boer War exploits and his journalism. Clementine was ten years younger than Winston. They were married for fifty-six years and she lived for thirteen years after Winston’s death.
Gosh, sorry that sounds like a maths quiz but Sonia Purnell had a lot to write about in her highly recommended biography of First Lady, The Life and Wars of Clementine Churchill. It is a portrait of a determined woman but also of a troubled woman. She was not a good mother, her husband often infuriated her, her life was lived in Winston’s shadow, she had endless duties to smooth Winston’s career and took endless trouble to promote it in his constituencies and with political friends and enemies. Although she lived until she was ninety-two this took a toll physically and mentally.
She often went away for months at a time without Winston and sometimes he without her. Because of his position, a combination of his political enemies and her discretion meant she had few real friends often finding her only friends were her staff. Her biography brings out the importance of her advice to Winston and her work in both wars.
“During the First World War, Clementine organised canteens for munitions workers and during the Second World War, she acted as Chairman of the Red Cross Aid to Russia Fund, President of the Young Women’s Christian Association War Time Appeal and Chairman of Maternity Hospital for the Wives of Officers.” (Wikipedia)
She deserves the recognition Sonia Purnell gives her and the candid colour she adds to her troubled and turbulent life. Like Clarissa and Anthony she carried Winston’s torch after his death taking care to have Chartwell restored with no signs of her husband’s sad later years. It is a remarkable life but she paid the price of fame as Winston’s wife.
Thank you for this classy piece.
Women of this caliber deserve to be written about ..to provide a torch for us all to use to light up our path into a more enlightened ,balanced future.Well,well,well…done YOU☘️
I recommend this book highly but her biography of Clementine’s daughter in law is even better
Your reference tiothe absence of contraception reminds me of the remark in one of the books that a popular method at the time was known as leaving before the sermon
Thank you. I have ordered a copy (Kingmaker, by Sonia Purnell, 2024).
Just finished reading Kingmaker, will be interested to know what you think of it.
Very worthwhile is her Woman of No Importance, the story of Virginia Hall, an American active in the Resistance in Vichy France. I believe it’s being made into a film. Sonia Purnell’s researches into her life were extensive and made difficult by lost or destroyed documents, papers and evidence. But it’s a terrific tale.