Where does this passion for Churchill come from?

Two years ago, I wrote a biography of Clementine Churchill * that has been and continues to be a huge success because it allows you to enter through the little door in the intimacy of the Churchill. Many of his fans did not even suspect that he had a wife (And what a woman!), Five impossible children and even less that he had the Nobel Prize for Literature. Too often, we only see him as a warlord

How to explain the craze that continues around his name?

Churchill is a style. He would not be the world icon he became without his extravagances: he wore pink silk underwear, worked in his bath, loved champagne ... Especially he possessed a devastating humor. Everyone knows a funny anecdote about Churchill. One of the most famous being this dialogue, at the end of a lunch at the Blenheim Palace with her friend Nancy Astor, fierce anti-alcoholic activist. She, exasperated: "Winston if I were your wife, I would put poison in your coffee." Him: "And me Nancy, if I were your husband, I would drink it". It is very rare a great head of state who is also a great comic actor.

What is your favorite word of Churchill?

"You must never forget that when a misfortune strikes you, it can save you even more trouble." This sacred monster was a pragmatist. When he was fired from his ministry in 1915, he went to fight in front line in the trenches of the Somme. In a fortnight, he reorganized the life of his battalion by improving the supply and creating a choir. He even brought a piano. When we plunge into Churchill's life, we come out of our spirits. Like him, we say that there is always something to do to get by and improve the lot of others.

Is your very photographic album used to show and demonstrate that Churchill was also a photogenic character who participated in the creation of his legend?

He was very friendly with Chaplin and, like him, very young, he created his stage costume. From his first election to the House of Commons, he adopted the black bow tie with white dots from his father. Then there was the cane offered by King Edward VII for his wedding. The cigar, he discovered at 20 years on an expedition to Cuba. He smoked eight a day, chewed them a lot but always turned them on again before taking a picture. He never went out without a hat either. It was said that he was the only man in England to have more hats than his wife ... Finally, there is the V of victory after the battle of El Alamein in November 1942.

"Me, Winston Churchill": Is it a desire on your part to point out other unknown aspects of his life? The painter ? The writer? The father? The loving husband?

This book contains 200 documents: family photos, unpublished archives, personal letters that show that it was all at once. There is even his first report card at school. He was good last. It is said that his father was terrible with him but Lord Randolph had good reason to be furious. What is unheard of is that this dunce, unable to learn a word of Greek or Latin, became a writer of genius because, while he tripled his classes, a formidable English teacher taught him the art of writing.

Have you discovered anything new, or at least not well known, about him?

I twist my neck to the legend of "No Sport". It is an expression of which one finds no trace and if he pronounced it it is very late when he spent his days behind his easel. In Harrow, he was a fencing champion and competed in all swimming events. At eighteen, he loved hunting. An excellent rider in the army, he became the star of his polo team and won the inter-regiment championship in India by scoring three of four goals as he dislocated his shoulder and had the arm in a sling. An incredible event. He stopped the polo at age 53, much to his regret, because he could not afford to keep his ponies

Could you have fallen in love with him?

Genius is always seductive. And then Winston was a great romantic. Besides, his wife had a real love at first sight which lasted 56 years. It did not seem obvious to share the life of this awesome monster ... Curiously it is the men who always say to me: "Say it, it should not be easy to live with him ..." Sometimes I wonder if it is no jealousy ...

He was not a feminist, even mocking suffragettes. That does not bother you?

He quickly converted thanks to Clementine and the English have had the right to vote since 1918. It bothers me much more to see that the French, they had to wait until 1945.

What continues to fascinate you in its existence?

His unwavering trust in his lucky star! It makes people popular. It's the secret of happiness. And also of victory!

"Me, Winston Churchill" Ed Tallandier.

* Clementine Churchill, the lion's wife. With Philippe Alexandre. Ed Tallandier / Robert Laffont.