After I wrote about Troublesome Young Men, a friendly correspondent posted me Roy Jenkins’s excellent Churchill: A Biography, which I am greatly enjoying and hope to say more about at length. For now, though, I am struck by how underrated was Clementine Churchill, Winston’s wife. Even Jenkins says sniffily, “There were many contemporary references to her great beauty, which does not however entirely come through in photographs.” (134) Look to the right; taste not a matter of dispute, different strokes and all that, but still. Others were even meaner, and wronger. Violet Asquith (later Bonham Carter [in answer to your question: yes]) on the news of their pairing: “Whether he [Winston Churchill] will ultimately mind her being as stupid as an owl I don’t know — it is a danger no doubt….” (138)

Here are two letters from her to Winston, during the Great War. Both come just after Churchill ended a leave in Britain and returned to France, where he was briefly leading a battalion, and where he didn’t really need to be.

First, about the possibility he might quit soldiering and return to London to resume his quest for political power.

I am so torn and lacerated over you. If I say ‘stay where you are’ a wicked bullet may find you which you would but for me escape…. If I were sure you would come through unscathed I would say: ‘wait, wait, have patience, don’t pluck the fruit before it is ripe — Everything will come to you if you don’t snatch at it.’ — To be great one’s actions must be able to be understood by simple people. Your motive for going to the Front was easy to understand — Your motive for coming back requires explanation. (302-3)

Second, after Churchill spent a lot of time pointlessly speechifying and damaging his reputation in the Commons, and then headed back across the Channel.

These grave public anxieties are very wearing. When next I see you I hope there will be a little time for us both alone. We are still young, but Time flies, stealing love away and leaving only friendship which is very peaceful but not very stimulating or warming. (308)

That’s one smart owl, really.