Loved this book about mrs Churchill . It was good learning about such a great woman
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

From the author of the Other Einstein and others is a book about Clementine Churchill. She was a strong force beside her husband, Winston Churchill. Not one to sit idly by, she helped him with his politics, as well as heading many charities for the people of Britain and Russia. I found the subject very interesting, but I wasn't as drawn as much by this book compared to Marie Benedict's other books. It may just be because Clementine herself was not warm and caring about her family, just Winston and even sometimes she had to have a break from him.

One of my favorite things to read about is women in history. I especially love learning about the women who existed "behind the scenes" in the lives of the most powerful men in history. Oftentimes, the stories of these women is just as outstanding-if not more so- than their husband/father/brother's stories.

The story of Clementine Churchill, wife of Winston Churchill, is one such story. When they married, Winston told her,
"It will not be an ordinary marriage, but it will be a very great one." He was correct, their relationship was unusual but great. At a time when women were rarely heard and often stayed in the background of politics, Lady Clementine worked alongside Winston Churchill, guiding his political decisions and even keeping him safe from physical attacks.

I enjoyed learning about Lady Clementine and have already ordered some past books by Marie Benedict!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me the pleasure of reading/reviewing Marie Benedict's new novel.

Lady Clementine, wife of Winston Churchill, was a charming, fascinating woman. She learned to become the right hand of Churchill. She was far more than just a wife, mother, friend to Winston.
This book flows well, and is very easy to read. Marie Benedict brings her own style and unique talents to creating a wonderful novel. I encourage anyone interested in Churchill, English history, or WWII history to read this novel. Marie Benedict has a unique talent for bringing characters to life. Wonderfully written.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book, Lady Clementine.

I am rating this book 3 stars. I did find it extremely well-written and I did admire the strength and intelligence of Clementine Churchill. However, I found the book unable to fully hold my attention, possibly because it continually described the many ways in which Clemmie heavily influenced her husband’s political decisions and policies. After a while, I realized that the story would be more of the like. That being said, I did get the point that Clementine was an exceptionally brilliant and decisive woman for her time.

I read more than half of this book before putting it aside as it did not engage me sufficiently to want to finish.

Lady Clementine is the historical fiction story of Clementine Churchill, the wife of Winston Churchill; literally the woman behind his success as a leader and Prime Minister of England. I did a little research of my own and discovered that the book is generally historically accurate. However, if Clementine Churchill was anything like the thoroughly obnoxious and self-centered woman portrayed in this novel, I feel sorry for Winston, who’s made out to be quite a bumbler in this mind-numbing novel.

There have been other books written about Clementine Churchill, including one by her youngest daughter, Mary, the only Churchill offspring to be treated without the utter disdain of her mother as experienced by her three siblings. I think enough has already been written about this time period and the Churchills’s role in shaping British and world history in the twentieth century; This novel does very little than report history. in a stilted and narcissistic manner.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.

How does someone stand out apart from such a character as Winston Churchill? Lady Clementine is a detailed look at the life of Clementine Churchill, wife of Winston Churchill.

Clementine Churchill did not let her marriage to the most recognizable Prime Minister define her as being “just the PM’s wife”. Instead, she used the position to rally women during wartime and gave them purpose. She would also help Winston with speeches, and smoothing his rough edges.

The format of the book was a bit unusual to me at first, but I one I saw it as more a collection of vignettes about Clementine’s life, the book flowed more easily for me. I want to learn more about Clementine now, because she seems like a fascinating person to learn about.

If you love WWII history, particularly about the London Blitz or the European front, and if you enjoy reading about real women in history, this is the book for you, I love all the above, so this was a perfect read. I only wish that this book came with a list of resources Marie Benedict used to research Clementine so I could do more reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC copy of Lady Clementine in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book I’ve read by Marie Benedict and I could not be more impressed. She is one great author. Once I finish her books, I feel like I’ve had a wonderful and enjoyable history lesson. I wish high school could have used this venue in history class. I had also previously read a novel covering Winston Churchill’s mother and this story continued the saga.
This novel is not just about Lady Clementine, it also covers Winston’s life, accomplishments, tenacity and challenges, but most importantly, it shows their true love for each other. The author has such a way of storytelling that you get to know Clementine, so many of her self-doubts when raising her children, her accomplishments and political views but also her caring for the English people. Her devotion to Winston was remarkable. I absolutely recommend this book for anyone who would enjoy a great book on Clementine and Winston Churchill. The book covers many years from their first meeting, marriage, raising children, good times, hard times and then WWII, so well done.
I was given the opportunity to receive this book from Sourcebooks Landmark through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This one gets the highest 5*****’s. An awesome book.

four stars on Goodreads

One of my favorite Winston Churchill quotes is, "I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught" and I agree with it. That's one reason why I like reading historical fiction because I learn without being taught.

This is my first book from Benedict. I really don't know much about Winston, let alone Clementine, his wife and this was a good introduction. I didn't realize he was at the top of his political game, then out, then back in again and out. He changed political parties a few times. He always looked old to me, and he was in his late 60s during WWII, and Clementine was in her late 50s.

Clementine had enough political ambitions for five husbands. I don't know if I would have been friends with her--she was very driven and had to then take "rest cures" for nervous exhaustion. Someone needed to tell her life was a marathon, not a sprint. While her childhood wasn't the easiest, she certainly didn't put her children at the top off her list. I found it ironic that when an American diplomat was coming to England to view the damage of the bombers in WWII, she knew he had stomach cancer and catered to him, serving him nutritious meals and even putting a hot water bottle in his bed, yet she didn't put the same concern in the care of her children. Looking up more information about her mothering habits I found some concerns about Marigold's care (or lack thereof) and Diana's death.

I was unaware how the Churchills viewed Roosevelt as the Americans joined the Allies in WWII and though he was pushing them aside to control the battles. I find it odd that Clementine put so much energy into raising funds for Russian children's hospitals when certainly there was so much need for that in England.

photo of the Churchills

Thanks to Netgallery and the publishers for an e-ARC. I really have no idea why Clementine's hair and coat are purple in the cover. Oddly, it kept reminding me of Violet, a daughter of the prime minister, who had designs on marrying Winston.

When an author is passionate about their subject matter it’s easy for readers to get lost in the narrative. Melanie Benjamin is such a writer. Some of her previous works of historical fiction such as The Swans of Fifth Avenue, The Aviator’s Wife and Mistress of the Ritz (to name a few) are among my favorites in the genre. Now with LADY CLEMENTINE she provides readers with a rich and satisfying foray into the life of the wife of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill who fought for the rights of women in an era that encouraged women to be “seen and not heard”.

Ms. Benedict paints a compelling portrait of a complex woman, her 57 year marriage to a driven politician as well as her dogged perseverance as she acts as a sounding board and confidant to the man she lovingly calls Pug, bolstering his courage through WWI and tending his needs and encouraging his resolve as he leads his nation through the dark days of WWII.

While her contributions went largely unnoticed during her lifetime as she devoted herself to her husband’s career and successes, Melanie Benjamin has highlighted Clementine’s contributions and granted this impressive role model the recognition she so richly deserves.

Inspiring, poignant, and beautifully crafted, I dare say that Lady Clementine is Marie Benedict's best novel yet! I could not put this book down. Benedict's writing is utterly atmospheric, and I really felt like I was in Clementine's shoes. I always enjoy reading about women in history, but what really made Lady Clementine for me was Clementine's character development and the relationship between her and Winston. A triumph!

Marie Benedict is a best selling author who writes historical fiction about remarkable women. I had previously read her novels The Other Einstein and The Only Woman in the Room. I am not a huge fan of her writing style, but commend her for bringing the women she writes about to a public who might not know their stories.

Lady Clementine is about Winston Churchill's wife, usually portrayed as long-suffering and anxious for Winston to put aside politics and enjoy his life--and give her more of his attention. Benedict shows a woman who understood what she was taking on in marrying Winston.

Twenty-three-year-old Clementine married the thirty-four-year-old Winston, with wanting to "write my own chapter." The novel takes their story through WWII, told by Clementine, in episodic scenes.

I just did not feel compelled to pick up the book, and half-way through decided to move on. It just couldn't compete with the other books I was reading at the time.

I received access to a free egalley by the publisher. My review is fair and unbiased.

Lady Clementine is a historical fiction novel about Winston Churchill’s wife. It has major girl power vibes and was such a treat to read.
I love the author’s ability to write about historically strong women who aren’t always given the attention or credit they deserve. The story begins in the year 1908 and follows Clementine’s life as she navigates politics and the arduous years of war.
I learned so much history and background from this story in a fun to read way and appreciated it from start to finish. Historical fiction fans will want to grab their copy of this one!

Marie Benedict has taken yet another unknown historical figure and done the research to discover why that person deserved more attention than they had received. Clementine Churchill was the great woman behind a great man. Marrying Winston Churchill in 1908, she took on various roles as Churchill's successes were followed by failures, followed by more success. She made do in whatever public house she ended up living in. She balanced budgets that were woefully inadequate to support her family. Churchill had been raised by a mother who neglected him. Clementine was raised in similar circumstances. She and Winston found themselves clinging to each other and drawing strength from the other partner. Clementine helped Winston write his speeches, he rehearsed the speeches with him. She was very good at reading people and then turning it to Winston's advantage. During World War II, she felt a duty to serve her country by using her public position to help make the lives of her fellow citizens a little better. Throughout the bombings of London, she went out at night with Winston to check on the people. She could be found visiting the shelters, taking her turn on the rooftops, watching for the planes carrying bombs.

Her sole attention was on Winston. Her children came in a very distant second, and when things got to be too much for her, she would leave, sometimes for months at at time, to get her nerves back in order.

Overall, a good read. Perhaps a bit long, and I would like to have learned more about their lives post war.

This book will likely be categorized as "historical fiction", but for me it was more than than, or, more accurately, different from more typical historical fiction. I have been trying to come up with a name that might capture my experience of this difference; fictional psychology is the best I have been able to come up, yet this doesn't quite capture it. The events of Lady Clementine have all been described before. What feels so fresh is Ms Benedict's ability to describe the (fictional) internal experiences of these events by Clementine and Winston Churchill. They come across as real people; people with wonderful qualities and deep flaws. They do their best; sometimes successfully, sometimes not, but always with air of authenticity that makes them utterly compelling. Ms Benedict's writing accomplishes the near impossible feat of having the grand history through which the Churchill's lived (and, indeed, helped to shape) fade as the reader's interest becomes more and more focused on the 'small'events of daily life and the impact of these small things on each individual and on Clementine and Winston as a couple. I deeply appreciate Netgalley for allowing me to share Ms Benedict's tremendous book in exchange for a fair review.

What a great read about a strong and powerful woman, especially one who had her own mental health challenges. I very much enjoyed learning about Clementine and the work she did. The time hops were a bit disorienting, but it moved the pace along well so that all aspects from marriage to end of WWII could be covered. I would have preferred to have a blurb about what she did after the war was over and throughout the rest of her life as well.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC of Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict in exchange for my honest review.
I had not known very much about Clementine Churchill, a true woman behind the man, until reading this book.
She fought for rights for women, was always available to advise and support her husband during his many years of service to their country and took on projects herself so Winston could focus on the war effort and his many meetings and ideas shared with world leaders. She traveled extensively when her husband did, even if it meant leaving her children for extended periods of time. Since this is historical fiction, I am not sure if she was as unconcerned about her children as it appears. I was very happy to read this book an learn about all the work Clementine Churchill put into helping her husband.

This book is a fictional retelling of the life of Winston Churchill’s wife, Clementine. Clementine Churchill was a fascinating woman and the research that has gone into this book is obvious. The problem for me was that I simply didn’t like Clementines character very much, she was portrayed as cold and controlling, with little compassion. What drove her was a sense of duty to her husband and to her country and whilst this is admirable it did not endear me to her, so I found it hard to connect and ‘care’ about the story.
Her portrayal as a mother was also hard to understand, even given the difference in time period. That Clementine did amazing things and played a vital role especially during ww2 is not doubted and I like the fact this book brings her out of the shadows but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would sadly.
This book is written extremely well but the language is quite flowery and the descriptions are sometimes long winded.
Al in all a good effort but this one wasn’t really for me.

Quickly I realized this book is not for me.I had a really tough time following this story. I did not connect with the characters or the story line for that matter. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this complimentary book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Lady Clementine is the kind of Historical fiction story that everyone should read because it’s about an amazing woman that after reading, I feel doesn’t get enough credit. Maybe it’s because I’m in the USA that we don’t hear much about Winston Churchill’s wife but she was clearly an amazing woman. Everything that her husband did she was right by his side doing her best to make sure the people of her country were taken care of and saw that she cared for them. Plus it has WWII in it and I’ve always loved a story about the second World War. It’s just one of those things that is always interesting and there are so many different stories to tell.This was one that I haven’t read before.

The only issue I have with the novel that it went on a little too long. Yes it was interesting to see everything that she went through but there was so much going on and the book could get a little wordy. Yes I never realized that Winston Churchill had a wife that did so much for him or how involved he was in WWI but the main focus of the novel was on his wife and at times she wasn’t written to be very likable. But that could never well be because things are different now. Women raise their children so hearing that she went out of her way to make sure her children's rooms were on the opposite sides of the house from her was a little off-putting.

Would I recommend this book? Of course because one you get into it you’re hooked and I couldn’t put it down and it’s a very descriptive book. I enjoyed it but it did take a little bit to get going.