The SPC Page Terners Book Club met via Zoom on Wednesday, July 29 to discuss the July reading of Erik Larson’s “The Splendid and the Vile”. This was the Page Terners’ first ever gathering and it was a great success. We had a turnout of fourteen readers – twenty-five had signed up but for various reasons not all were able to attend. Even so, the conversation was insightful and it was fun to rethink the myriad of details that grabbed our attention while reading this fascinating book. A lot of the group members have read extensively about Winston Churchill but were unanimous in agreeing they gleaned new information due to Larson’s unique approach to the subject.
This book details the first year of Britain’s war against Germany (May 1940-May 1941) and is the telling of Churchill’s genius, oratory talent, idocyncracies, and family life from the perspective of those closely associated with him via diaries. Ordinary citizens experiences are juxtaposed with the Churchill’s inner circle’s experience via personal diaries, news reports, and citizens associated with The Mass Observation Project, a social research organization founded in 1937. Our readers were all fascinated by the inclusion of some of the Nazi elites’ diaries, in particular Joseph Goebbels. By limiting the book to that one amazing year, the reader is a voyeur into the terror and bravery of living through that time.
After the meeting, emails continued to be exchanged, testifying to the success of the event. Book recommendations were offered for further reading on Churchill. Some examples: “Churchill, Walking with Destiny”, William Manchester’s “The Last Lion”, “The Tatooist of Aushwitz” and for Amazon Prime watchers, the TV series “A French Village”.
It was great meeting Club members who ordinarily one would not due to timing of Club stays. We are all making new friends, which is one good result of this strange summer! – Martie Janeway
Please contact Martie Janeway if you are interested.
martiejaneway@gmail.com
