Home › The Right of Way › The Right of Way: Churchill

The Right of Way: Churchill

CHURCHILL WINSTON CHURCHILL has been almost as versatile as his English namesake. It is a far cry from the story of romantic adventure and the historical novel to the tale of reforming tendencies, political, social, and religious. He has an acute knowledge of what will interest the great public, and writes a story about it in such a way that he becomes a phenomenal best seller. He has learned the profession of writing novels by novel-writing, and he learned to portray people by careful study of those he wanted to use. He has acquired a power of characterization that is almost photographic. He uses this power to present people of great appeal to a large body of Americans, for they are the type known to many. All this shows the seriousness of the man. That his political novels, for instance, are real stories of politics is shown by the fact that a former President of the United States and two former governors of Massachusetts have consented to retell them in shortened form for this book. Winston Churchill has written his best book in the opinion of most readers, in "Coniston"; it portrays a vital phase of American political life; it has a potent influence in improving the conduct of our public affairs. In Jethro Bass he has created his greatest character, as yet--one that will probably take permanent rank in American literature.

CONISTON By WINSTON CHURCHILL Condensation by HON. SAMUEL W. McCALL CONISTON was a small village upon a shelf on a mountain-side commanding one of the gorgeous views characteristic of a little commonwealth which has many a larger sister state, but none worthier.

The politics of the place was under the control of the Church party, which something more than three-quarters of a century ago held sway over many of the towns of New England. But the career of "Old Hickory" was giving a new impulse to democracy and portended little good to any ruling class, whatever its virtues. All that was needed was a leader, and one was found in a young man named Jethro Bass, who was the son of a well-to-do tanner. Jethro inherited from his father a snug little fortune, but his education had been almost wholly neglected. He skilfully made use of the rising discontent by appeals to ambition and personal interest. It became clear that the ruling party was to be challenged at the coming town meeting, and so presumptuous a thing stirred society to its depths.