On Marlborough

I am reading Winston Churchill’s biography of his ancestor, John Churchill, who became 1st Duke of Marlborough. It is written really as a repudiation of the slander Winston felt his ancestor was subject to as the Duke defected to the foreign invader, William of Orange, to overthrow King James II.

It is written in an argumentative style but has a number of interesting elements, particularly in describing the meritocracy embedded in the nobility-based system, the role of Britain prior to its sea and colonial superiority, and the colossal size and collapse of France.

Some thoughts:

• England actively sought a foreign invader in William of Orange to save them from a catholic British King although William was in the line of succession due to his marriage to King James’ daughter.
• Any major act of disloyalty, not matter the reason, creates an air of suspicion – that is the price to be paid of changing sides.
• Genius generals are hard to describe well to non-military audiences.
• Across all of the biographies I have read, there is a feverish number of references to mistresses even in the staid British courts which is likely representative of the inability of women to self-support. It is almost as if the mistress was a political operative given the amount of historically relevant activity they are credited with.
• It is very clear that the end of monarchies was an enormous boon to human development and society – the patronage system is such a drag although I do like Winston’s quote of Admiral Fisher – ‘favoritism is the secret of efficiency’.

It is a good book (or set of books) so far and why Winston deserved the Nobel for Literature.