Six Minutes in May

Six Minutes in May examines the pivotal period in 1940 when Winston Churchill replaced Neville Chamberlain as Prime Minister of Britain. The book centers on a parliamentary debate about the failed Norway Campaign, which triggered a sequence of political events during the early days of World War II. Shakespeare reconstructs hour-by-hour developments through documents, diaries, and letters from key political and military figures of the time. The narrative tracks both the military situation in Norway and the concurrent political machinations in Westminster that led to a change in leadership. The book details the complex web of relationships between members of Parliament, military commanders, and the royal family during this crucial juncture. Multiple perspectives from those directly involved provide insight into the decision-making and power dynamics at play. Through this focused examination of six minutes that changed history, Shakespeare reveals how seemingly minor political moments can alter the trajectory of nations. The book stands as a study of leadership, crisis management, and the role of parliamentary democracy during wartime.

Readers describe this as a detailed account of Churchill's rise to power, with minute-by-minute tension during the Norway Debate that changed British leadership. Many note it reads like a political thriller despite covering known historical events. Likes: - Fresh perspective on a well-documented period - Clear explanation of complex parliamentary procedures - Strong character portraits of key figures - Research quality and use of primary sources Dislikes: - Too much detail on minor political figures - First third moves slowly with background information - Some found the Norway campaign coverage excessive Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (243 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.5/5 (168 ratings) Amazon US: 4.4/5 (47 ratings) Representative review: "Shakespeare makes you feel as if you're in the House of Commons during those crucial days. His research uncovers fascinating details about the backroom dealings." - Goodreads reviewer

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🔷 Though Churchill became Prime Minister in May 1940, he was not King George VI's first choice - the King strongly favored Lord Halifax and had to be convinced to accept Churchill. 🔷 The book's title refers to a crucial six-minute period during the Norway Debate in Parliament, when Leo Amery quoted Cromwell to Chamberlain: "You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you." 🔷 Author Nicholas Shakespeare discovered while researching that his own grandfather, as a Conservative MP, had played a small but significant role in the events leading to Churchill's rise to power. 🔷 The Norway Debate that triggered Chamberlain's downfall was not actually about Norway - it became an outlet for years of pent-up frustration with his leadership and appeasement policies. 🔷 Churchill was actually responsible for the Norwegian campaign disaster that sparked the debate, yet ironically, it was this failure that helped propel him to the position of Prime Minister.