The capable author of The Mitford Girls tackles a dynasty – probably the dynasty – with entertaining results.

From the First Duke of Marlborough, who prompted a good joke from Charles II when caught rogering the royal mistress ("Thou art a rascal but I forgive thee for I know 'tis how you earn your daily bread"), to Winston's daughter Sarah, arrested for drunkenness while playing Peter Pan, this book bulges with incident. Though the home life of our wartime PM was scarcely eased by his son and wilful wife, they provide lively pages.