"Fight and be Right"

[EdT]

Winston Churchill remains one of the most famous figures in modern history. His powerful oratory, love of controversy and charismatic charm make him one of the most revered- and admired- people of the 20th Century. Churchill has achieved the rarest of victories; he has become an archetype, a symbol of Britain and the British spirit.

But if you had asked about Churchill in the late nineteenth century, another political giant would come to mind, one almost entirely forgotten today. Like Winston, he had great gifts; the ability to coin a memorable phrase, and make a great speech; like Winston, he was a mercurial opportunist with a fondness for drink who delighted in irritating his more genteel colleagues. Lord Randolph Churchill, Winston's father, had all of his son's gifts, perhaps even more; but on the few occasions when history remembers him at all, it is as a tragic figure who died early and never quite fulfilled his vast potential.

So, what if....

[MrHola]

Yes!

[Alberto Knox]

Yes! Finally! I can't wait to start reading

[dreadnought jenkins]

Most excellent.

[PCSwitaj]

It starts!

[Thande]

Great.

Incidentally, where's the title from? I assume it's a line from an OTL speech by Randolph...

[EdT]

Originally Posted by Thande

Incidentally, where's the title from? I assume it's a line from an OTL speech by Randolph...

That's the one. Randolph first used the phrase 'Ulster will fight- and Ulster will be right' in a letter to a Liberal Unionist in May 1886; it soon became something of a slogan of his, and it was adopted as a catchphrase of the anti Home Rule movement.

I'll be posting the prologue tomorrow or tuesday btw, so stay tuned...

[Nicksplace27]

Sweet. I didn't get a chance to follow a Greater Britain, and now I'm really happy I can actually see one of your great TLs progress!

[Cromm Crúaich]

This should be interesting.

[EvolvedSaurian]

Originally Posted by EdT

That's the one. Randolph first used the phrase 'Ulster will fight- and Ulster will be right' in a letter to a Liberal Unionist in May 1886; it soon became something of a slogan of his, and it was adopted as a catchphrase of the anti Home Rule movement.

I'll be posting the prologue tomorrow or tuesday btw, so stay tuned...

I'll be sure to.

[stevep]

EdT

Sounds very interesting. Not to mention potentially a big butterfly if you end up with major internal conflict over Home Rule. Looking forward to hearing more.

Steve

[Faeelin]

Oh my.

Are the flames at Whitehall an omen?

[rcduggan]

So it begins.

[David S Poepoe]

Originally Posted by Faeelin

Oh my.

Are the flames at Whitehall an omen?

Isn't that the Palace of Westminster?

[Zyzzyva]

Originally Posted by David S Poepoe

Isn't that the Palace of Westminster?

Isn't that, uh, Parliament?

[EvolvedSaurian]

I think I see Big Ben. Sorry, couldn't resist.

[dreadnought jenkins]

fools. Obviously that's parliament hill in Canada.

[David S Poepoe]

Originally Posted by Zyzzyva

Isn't that, uh, Parliament?

Parliament sits in Westminster Palace.

[David S Poepoe]

Originally Posted by dreadnought jenkins

fools. Obviously that's parliament hill in Canada.

Who set Toronto on fire?

[V-J]

Can't wait.

Confidently assuming that A) Randolph gains power at some point and B) that he subsequently engages in demagogery regarding Irish Home Rule, then we may also see a strong role for Joseph Chamberlain in this TL - his notion of Social Reform allied to Nationalism would dovetail very well with Randolph's views of 'Tory Democracy'.

Mind you, that's dependent on when exactly the POD is. If the Liberal Unionists never form, (Unlikely, I would imagine, but still a possiblity) then I bes talkin' out o' my arse.