Winston Spencer CHURCHILL

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1923 - 1931

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Published by

London: Thornton Butterworth Limited

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For Full Description scroll to the end of the Photographs






















 










 

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Description:

London, Thornton Butterworth Limited, 1923–31.

• Vol. I: 1911–1914;
• Vol. II: 1915;
• Vol. III–IV: 1916–1918, Part I and II;
• Vol. V: The Aftermath;
• Vol. VI: The Eastern Front.
• First Editions, first impressions.

Purchased recently at auction and beautifully REBOUND (from the original cloth) in recent full dark blue morocco with raised bands, gilt titles and gilt 'Lion' tooling to spines; all page edges gilt. Errata slips present; light foxing to all vols in parts. A very elegant set.

CHURCHILL, Sir WINSTON SPENCER. The World Crisis, vols. 1 - 6, 8vo., 1923 - 31. Presentation copy signed by the author to Mrs Brooks as a present for Lord Selkirk. A letter from Churchill's Private Secretary Gillian Maturin apologises for the mix-up and encloses a signed piece of paper which Churchill has inscribed.

The letter and inscription were purchased at auction with the set of volumes and we have had the set rebound in full leather and the letter affixed to the paste down of volume 1 by the binder.

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Working with astonishing speed and energy, Churchill produced this mammoth history of the First World War in the aftermath of electoral defeat. The work deals with his reorganization of the Royal Navy in the years leading up to the War, defends his Gallipoli policy, and criticises Haig's strategy.

Although parts of The World Crisis were highly autobiographical, drawing on documents from Churchill's private papers, the book as a whole was a stupendous narrative of the war in Europe featuring masterly set-piece accounts of major battles. Dictated to secretaries as he strode up and down the room, it exhibited his passionate interest in war and his romantic conception of the ‘true glory’ of the troops who perished on the Somme (ODNB).

In aim and method, it foreshadows his Second World War. 5 volumes in 6, octavo.

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Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British politician known chiefly for his leadership of the United Kingdom during World War II. He served as Prime Minister from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. A noted statesman and orator, Churchill was also an officer in the British Army, historian, writer, and artist. He is the only British Prime Minister who has ever received the Nobel Prize in Literature and the second person to be made an Honorary Citizen of the United States.

During his army career, Churchill saw action in India, in the Sudan and the Second Boer War. He gained fame and notoriety as a war correspondent and through contemporary books he wrote describing the campaigns. He also served briefly in the British Army on the Western Front in World War I, commanding the 6th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers.

At the forefront of the political scene for almost fifty years, he held many political and cabinet positions. Before the First World War, he served as President of the Board of Trade, Home Secretary and First Lord of the Admiralty as part of the Asquith Liberal government. During the war he continued as First Lord of the Admiralty until the disastrous Gallipoli Campaign caused his departure from government. He returned as Minister of Munitions, Secretary of State for War and Secretary of State for Air. In the interwar years, he served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Conservative government.

After the outbreak of the Second World War, Churchill was again appointed First Lord of the Admiralty. Following the resignation of Neville Chamberlain on 10 May 1940, he became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and led Britain to victory against the Axis powers. Churchill was always noted for his speeches, which became a great inspiration to the British people and embattled Allied forces.

After losing the 1945 election, he became Leader of the Opposition. In 1951, he again became Prime Minister before finally retiring in 1955. Upon his death, the Queen granted him the honour of a state funeral, which saw one of the largest assemblies of statesmen in the world.

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Externally: 

• very good recent morocco leather
• all page edges gilt
• some minor marks to the leather
• excellent condition externally

Internally: 

• one of the cleanest sets I have seen
• some minor marks and foxing consistant with age to all the volumes (thumb marks, foxing, marks)
• the map for volume 6 The Eastern Front is in very good condition - no tears - even to the join with the page
  
• otherwise good - and consistant with age of these volume
• all maps collated and complete