A CONTEMPORARY said the difference between Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George was, if you discussed an issue with them, Churchill, above, would spend an hour telling you what he knew about it, while Lloyd George would spend the time learning what you knew about it.

Another story from Richard Toye's dissection of the relationship between these two political giants, perhaps more central to the themes of his book, has Churchill ruefully reflecting on the "master-servant" relationship between himself and Lloyd George, with the Welshman undoubtedly the master.

Yet that is not the verdict of posterity. Today Churchill remains an iconic figure, while Lloyd George is largely forgotten.

Both had major reputations as radical reformers before the First World War, both would lead Britain through cataclysmic conflicts. But Churchill's skill in writing history and the more positive position the Second World War has in the national consciousness compared with its 1914-18 predecessor may explain his continued mythic status.

Unusually for two hugely ambitious, contemporary politicians, the two claimed an undying friendship. Toye, aided by a wealth of fresh information, finds they were often bitterly at odds, but always kept up the appearance of closeness, for a variety of often selfish reasons.

One of his new documents has sparked controversy - an unpublished article under Churchill's name from 1937 attacking the persecution of Jews, but suggesting their behaviour may have encouraged anti-Semitism.

This is undoubtedly a useful and revealing work, particularly for those who already have background knowledge of its subjects. For anyone who doesn't, the weight given to what is essentially political gossip compared to the momentous events going on all around may at times seem a little odd, though it is hard to see how Toye could have avoided this without swamping his book with background detail.