From the 1st Duke of Marlborough - soldier of genius, restless empire-builder and cuckolder of Charles II - to Winston Churchill, our 'greatest Briton', the Churchills have been politicians, gamblers and profligates, heroes and womanisers. In this gripping story of momentous times Mary Lovell charts triumphant political and military campaigns; the construction of great houses; quiet, domestic tragedies; disastrous marriages - ending in venereal disease, guns by the bedside and papal annulment - and profoundly happy ones, such as Winston's own to Clementine Hosier.

'Between 1870 and 1950 there were at least twenty remarriages; this fact alone guarantees the book will be a good read . . . Stuffed with scandal, The Churchills treads the tightrope between gossip and history, which is the source of its pleasure' Frances Wilson, Daily Telegraph

'Enthralling . . . written with considerable grace and style' Kathryn Hughes, Guardian

'Full of juicy details' Sunday Telegraph

'A tremendous read . . . packing in more champagne, adultery, divorce and continental dalliances than any book I have read' Stella Tillyard, Financial Times