Genre
Non Fiction
Setting and Context
London, during World War II, from the first day of Winston Churchill's Prime Ministerial career
Narrator and Point of View
The point of view is always Churchill's.
Tone and Mood
Threatening, ugly, evil, courageous, triumphant, defiant
Protagonist and Antagonist
Churchill is the protagonist; Adolf Hitler is the antagonist
Major Conflict
World War II is the major conflict, but the specific conflict in the book is the Blitz, a series of aerial attacks on London
Climax
Churchill's alliance with Roosevelt and the way in which he persuaded the American president to join the war
Foreshadowing
Hitler's invasion of Belgium and Holland that coincided with Churchill's first day in office foreshadows the lack of respect the German leader had for any other nation and his defiance in the face of a new alliance-making Prime Minister.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
The title of the book alludes to an observation made in John Colville's journal after a particularly heavy fall of bombs over his home.
Imagery
The book's imagery is very violent, and like the title, sometimes beautiful, in that the destruction caused on the ground is in contradiction to the beauty of the bomb's lights that illuminate the sky. The imagery for the most part emphasizes the destrucion caused in London during the Blitz.
Paradox
In his meetings with Roosevelt, Churchill emphasized why America needed Britain as an ally, rather than emphasizing how much he needed an alliance with Roosevelt.
Parallelism
There is a parallel between Churchill, who chooses to stay in London during the Blitz, and the people he is governing.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Londoners refers to all of the British people living in London who suffered loss during the bombings.
Personification
N/A
