Churchill’s Roving Commission

• In Event: Biography and Autobiography of Winston S. Churchill

Abstract

Winston S. Churchill’s autobiography, “My Early Life: A Roving Commission,” first published in 1930 and never since out of print, is his most approachable and most charming book, giving the reader a window into Churchill’s soul and the best introduction to his character.

What was his intention in writing it? How far can we rely on its truth? What can we learn from reading it? This paper examines these and other questions about the book.

Author

• James W. Muller, University of Alaska, Anchorage