Richard Vinen, "The Last Titans: How Churchill and De Gaulle Saved Their Nations and Transformed the World" (Simon & Schuster, 2026)

Mar 4, 2026

Richard Vinen, historian at King’s College London and author of The Last Titans, offers a lively dual portrait of Churchill and de Gaulle. He contrasts their backgrounds, personalities, wartime roles, and postwar careers. The conversation probes clashes with allies, choices in 1940, de Gaulle’s Algeria return, and how each shaped national identity and Cold War strategy.

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INSIGHT

Churchill's Backing Made Free French Viable

Churchill's personal recognition was decisive for de Gaulle's Free French legitimacy in 1940.
Churchill allowed de Gaulle to broadcast to France and called him leader of the Free French, giving looser but crucial recognition.

ANECDOTE

Dakar Defeat Didn't Destroy de Gaulle's Base

Dakar's failure hurt de Gaulle personally but did not end his movement because British expectations were modest.
After Dakar he secured large African territories that became an independent recruiting base for Free France.

INSIGHT

Churchill Studied Roosevelt For Survival

Churchill cultivated Roosevelt intensely because US aid was vital; Roosevelt reciprocated cooler, strategic friendship.
Vinen quotes Churchill: no lover ever studied his mistress's whims more assiduously than I studied those of President Roosevelt.

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A compelling dual biography of Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle that shines new light on two of the greatest figures of the 20th century.
Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle were thrown together by war. They incarnated the resistance of Britain and France to the existential threat from Nazi Germany, and their ultimate victory over Hitler has ensured their achievements will never be forgotten. But, as The Last Titans: How Churchill and De Gaulle Saved Their Nations and Transformed the World (Simon & Schuster, 2026) shows, that is only a part of a complex story. Both men influenced their countries, and the world around them, long after the war was won.
There was a paradox in the parallel and intertwined lives of these extraordinary men. De Gaulle—tall, gauche, and incorruptible—exhibited qualities often associated with the English. Churchill—short, charming, witty, and a bon vivant—resembled the quintessential politician of the French Third Republic. Their working relationship was rarely smooth, but they appreciated each other’s stature: de Gaulle said Churchill was “the great artist of a great history,” while Churchill recognized de Gaulle as “l'homme du destin.”
Richard Vinen explores what made these men exceptional and how profoundly they were influenced by their national cultures. Beyond personal intrigue, Vinen makes a wider point that Britain and France are both haunted by perceptions of past greatness. He retraces the paths of two leaders who once helmed superpowers but lived to see their nations weakened by two world wars and the loss of empires.
Written with extraordinary narrative verve, The Last Titans offers a fresh exploration into the lives of de Gaulle and Churchill. By bringing their two stories into one, each man is seen anew and we gain fresh insights into their achievements and their legacy today.

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