Every politician's rise to power is a story of success and failure, accompanied by tantalising what-might-have-beens.

The career of Winston Churchill was no exception, with his eight months prior to becoming Prime Minister as First Lord of the Admiralty marked by the loss of important warships, the planning of disastrous expeditions and the design of impractical weapons.

Based on archival and biographical research, this account argues that Churchill's actions at the Admiralty were for the most part misjudged and dangerous. Much of what happened could have been avoided, with lives saved and the defence of western Europe strengthened had other counsels prevailed.

Very much the opposite of a hagiography, A Study in Failure provides an alternative perspective on the man regularly considered the UK's greatest ever leader.

'Does the world need another book on Churchill? In the case of this brilliantly researched, provocative study of events leading to his becoming the country's wartime prime minister, the answer is definitely, "Yes". Simon Matthews provides a compelling and clear-eyed portrait of Churchill the man rather than Churchill the legend' - NICK RENNISON