Join Katherine Carter as she focuses on her major new history of Churchill in the 1930s and learn how Churchill’s meetings at Chartwell, his country home, strengthened his fight against the Nazis. From household names to political leaders, diplomats to spies, Carter will reveal a fascinating cast of characters, showing how each made their mark on Churchill’s thinking and political strategy.  

We’ll discover how with Chartwell as his base, Churchill gathered intelligence about Germany’s preparations for war and, in doing so, put himself in a position to change the course of history. 

About the speaker: Katherine Carter is a curator and historian who has managed the house and collections at Chartwell, Winston Churchill’s country home, for 12 years. A commentator and adviser on the life and legacy of Sir Winston Churchill, she lectures internationally and appears frequently in print and broadcast media. She is a Fellow of both the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Society of Arts, and is a Churchill Fellow of Westminster College, the site of Winston Churchill's 'Iron Curtain' speech in Fulton, Missouri.  

Her bestselling first book, Churchill's Citadel: Chartwell and the Gatherings Before the Storm, (2024) published by Yale University Press, has been well-received in both national and international press, as well as critical acclaim. Literary Review magazine called it "a stimulating and enjoyable work that shows us interwar politics from an unfamiliar angle", while The Critic Magazine remarked that it had been written "with such relish that one can smell the cigar smoke exude from every page". 

Take part at the museum: Join us at the museum for this special talk, followed by drinks and a visit to our exhibition Winston Churchill: The Painter until 20.45. 

Watch online: This talk will also be broadcast live from the museum via Zoom. Online ticketholders will be emailed a link to join 24 hours in advance. Ticketholders will also receive a link to view a recording of the talk, which will be available for two weeks.