The Crisis is a historical novel by Winston Churchill, published in 1901. The novel is set in St. Louis, Missouri, in the years leading up to the first battles of the American Civil War, and follows the story of Stephen Brice, a man with Union and abolitionist sympathies, and his involvement with a Southern family. The novel focuses on the romantic tension between four main characters: Virginia Carvel, a fashionable Southern woman, Clarence Colfax, her cousin who becomes a stalwart cavalier in the Southern cause, Stephen Brice, an earnest young lawyer from Boston with Union sympathies, and Eliphalet Hopper, a hard-working clerk with ambitions to advance himself financially and socially. The crisis of the title is provoked by Abraham Lincoln's opposition to the extension of slavery, and the power of his personal integrity to win people to his cause, including Stephen Brice, who becomes a devoted admirer and proponent after a personal interview with Lincoln on the eve of the Freeport debate. The novel is essentially a story about Lincoln, as his philosophy is a dynamic presence throughout the story.
Winston Churchill (1874-1965) was a British statesman, politician, and writer. He is best known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during World War II, as well as his oratory skills and numerous literary works. Churchill was born into an aristocratic family and educated at prestigious schools, including Harrow and the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. He served in the British Army and worked as a war correspondent before entering politics in 1900 as a member of parliament for the Conservative Party. Churchill served as First Lord of the Admiralty and was responsible for the disastrous Gallipoli campaign. He later served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the 1920s and as Prime Minister. Churchill's leadership during World War II, including his inspiring speeches and steadfast determination, helped lead the Allies to victory over Nazi Germany. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders in history. In addition to his political career, Churchill was a prolific writer and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953. He wrote numerous books, including a six-volume history of World War II, and is remembered for his memorable quotes and speeches, including his famous "we shall fight on the beaches" speech in 1940.
