The aristocratic adventurer - David Cannadine

In May 2005 Penguin will publish 70 unique titles to celebrate the company's 70th birthday. The titles in the Pocket Penguins series are emblematic of the renowned breadth of quality of the Penguin list and will hark back to Penguin founder Allen Lane's vision of 'good books for all'.

David Cannadine is one of Britain's premier historians, essayists and broadcasters, whose books such as Hope and Glory and Ornamentalism have brought erudite and entertaining social history to a wide audience. As General Editor of the Penguin History of Britain series he embodies Penguin's long-term commitment to quality, accessible history publishing. This piece from his acclaimed Aspects of Aristocracy takes a wry look at Winston Churchill's upper-class origins.