The second volume of the official biography of Winston S.Churchill, covering the early years of Churchill's political career as Tory MP for Oldham through to his crossing of the floor of the House in May 1904 to join the the Liberals, and his subsequent rise, first to the Home Office and then to the Admiralty where he faced the outbreak of World War I. This edition of the book includes a new introduction by Martin Gilbert, who, after the death of Randolph Churchill, took over and completed the eight volume biography.