Highly-acclaimed British historian and author Andrew Roberts visited Lubbock this week on the heels of the release of his new book — a biography of Winston Churchill titled "Churchill: Walking with Destiny."

Roberts sat down with Texas Tech Chancellor Emeritus Kent Hance for a public conversation at Tech's International Cultural Center on Thursday. Roberts told stories, tales and funny one-liners of the late Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Eager listeners hung onto the words as Roberts spoke of one of the history's most significant figures.

"Churchill: Walking with Destiny" has been praised by such publications as the Wall Street Journal, The Economist, The New York Times and The London Times, so it's worth a read. Here are just some of the interesting anecdotes that stood out in Roberts' discussion in Lubbock, although there are many more in the book:

Roberts said it's possible to view Churchill's career as an attempt to make his father, who died when he was young, proud, although Roberts points out Churchill's father was harsh on him. Roberts said Churchill believed he met with his father's ghost sometime after World War II, and in speaking with the ghost, he didn't tell his father how instrumental he was in the Allied victory in WWII.
"Walking with Destiny" comes from Churchill always believing he was always meant to lead. According to Roberts, Churchill said when he was 16-years-old there were going to be great struggles and Britain would be in great danger, and that he would be called upon to save it. Roberts said Churchill believed he had a greater purpose all his life, which gave the leader calmness throughout the war.
Churchill had many near run-ins with death, which added to Churchill's point that he was meant for a greater destiny. Roberts said Churchill was born prematurely, stabbed in the stomach when he was a child, nearly died of pneumonia, was in two plane crashes, three car accidents, almost drowned and nearly died in a house fire. "Those are just the peacetime close brushes with death," Roberts said. Churchill was in the British Army for several years, including in the First World War.
Roberts said Churchill did drink an enormous amount, but there was only one documented occasion during WW2 when he was noticeably drunk. It was during a meeting that lasted well into the night, and Roberts said they simply held the same meeting the next morning pretending the last one didn't happen.
Churchill was a journalist — he was a war correspondent even while serving in the army. Roberts said writing helped Churchill become a master of the English language, as he's known for. Churchill was also an avid reader. Once asked how he produced such great speeches and phrases, Churchill, according to Roberts, shared this advice: Always have short sentences, have each sentence express just one thought, use short words and use words from Old English so English listeners immediately recognize them.
Churchill traveled a lot during the war, which was important. When you think of the big three leaders, Roberts said Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union was afraid of flying, and President Franklin Roosevelt had health issues, so Churchill was often the one to travel long distances, and as Roberts put it, served as the glue that held the three allies together.
Roberts didn't know if Churchill would be able to do well in today's political climate, mostly for two reasons: Churchill didn't mask things, he described things bluntly and truthfully, and he often admitted his mistakes and changed his mind. Roberts said when politicians today change their stance on positions they're criticized.

Roberts was granted access to letters, diaries and memoirs from Churchill's peers in writing the biography that's been described as the greatest account of Churchill to date. Roberts was the first historian to read and cite King George VI's diaries — King George VI had weekly meetings with the iconic Prime Minister.

After the talk, Roberts signed copies of his book to a line full of people.

Hance thanked Chancellor Tedd Mitchell, President Lawrence Schovanec and the Chancellor's Council for bringing Roberts to Lubbock.

"I love to bring someone like this to West Texas," Hance said. "We hope others come along also, but no one will outshine Andrew."