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Rivals in the Storm

How Lloyd George Seized Power, Won the War and Lost his Government - Recommended by Rory Stewart on The Rest is Politics

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Rivals in the Storm

By: Damian Collins
Narrated by: Dyfrig Morris
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Bloomsbury presents Rivals in the Storm by Damian Collins, read by Dyfrig Morris.

A vivid biography in cinematic snapshots of David Lloyd George, one of the world’s greatest statesmen.

Brought up in rural North Wales, David Lloyd George attended neither a grand school nor ancient university. He was very much an outsider. And yet he rose through the ranks with charisma, fierce intelligence and fighting spirit to become, as Churchill put it in his tribute, a man who ‘stood, when at his zenith, without a rival’.

But his rise was not without its hardships, and in Rivals in the Storm, experienced MP and author Damian Collins focuses on the impact of Lloyd George’s personality on other leading politicians, in driving progressive reforms through government, changing the course of the First World War to lead the Allies to victory, and cementing Britain’s alliance with America.

Covering Lloyd George’s emergence as the dominating political personality in Great Britain to the aftermath of his resignation, this fascinating biography takes you inside the rooms where the important decisions happened, and shows the bitter struggles as well as the triumphs of this great man of his or any other age, who nonetheless fell short of his own high expectations. Europe Great Britain Military Politicians Politics & Activism Imperialism Winston Churchill War
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Critic reviews

A fascinating, provocative, timely reflection from the inside of politics on how Lloyd George’s rhetoric, intuition, blarney, and wit often grasped what the professionals missed. And why amateurs can – sometimes at least – save the day.
Superb.
In this deeply researched and intensely readable book, Damian Collins shows the inner man, and how he navigated the great crises of his country, and ultimately of civilization.
A fascinating book with a gripping narrative... I enjoyed this book enormously and learned a lot.
Brilliantly researched. Collins’s book gives us a memorable overview of what was being discussed, urgently and sometimes furiously, in the club dining rooms and country house in which Lloyd George dined, his mind always focused on one thing: how to secure total victory.
Engagingly written and professionally researched.
An astonishing argument for the power of politicians at a time when it often feels as though there is no power anywhere. (Rory Stewart)
A beautifully written page turner.
This study of David Lloyd George’s premiership reveals once again that no more fascinating character, not even Disraeli or Churchill, has presided over the destiny of the nation.
All the material is here for a bold new analysis… a skilful, lively, gossipy upbeat approach to the story.
I’ve just finished reading an excellent book on Lloyd George and the First World War by Damian Collins, Rivals in the Storm– which I thoroughly recommend.
An eminently written biography of the last Liberal prime minister, Damian Collins has produced an insightful and balanced study of the 'Welsh Wizard’ (Lord German, Liberal Democrat peer)
All stars
Most relevant
Very enjoyable and accessible book about one of our greatest PMs and political figures. Although unfairly dwarfed by his protege Churchill by those pushing a simplistic hagiographical view of the latter, it is LG who was the original 20th century political titan.
This is an excellent account of a key part of his life and also helping to explain why, unlike Churchill, LG never had a political comeback.

Balanced view of an under-appreciated Prime Minister

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At key moments the quotes from LG make it seem a if he was commenting on his own history.

Churchill is better known, but Lloyd George was the GOAT.

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This is not grand narrative history. Damian Collins chose to be more academic and serious than that. I wish he'd allowed himself a little more political insight and humour. Still, every quote is well judged and the scholarship seems impeccable.

Dyfrig Morris was an inspired choice of narrator. He brings this text, which is sometimes a little plodding, to life. His Welsh is, of course, faultless but he manages Irish, Scottish, French and other intonations brilliantly while never descending into caricature. I felt lucky to have listened to this book rather than to have read it

exceptional narration

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Lots of description of lengthy meetings which could become tedious but these were necessary to fully expose the extent of the book title" "Rivals in the Storm". A fascinating description of an enigmatic man.

A profile of a remarkable man

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