HEWINS, Ralph. Quisling: Prophet without Honour. New York: John Day Company. 1966. 8vo. First edition. A very interesting association copy of this rather controversial biography of Vidkun Quisling, the Norwegian wartime leader who collaborated with the Nazi state. Quisling was sentenced to the firing squad for his vast array of war crimes, but the nature of his collaboration has since proved somewhat controversial. His name has become a synonym of a traitor throughout the world and is still used often today.

Upon publication, author Hewins faced criticism for his apparent revisionist analysis of Quisling, though Hewins was noted generally for his considered and measured approach to his previous work. Most interesting here is the book’s association inscription from Hewins to Whitney Straight, an air commodore, Grand Prix driver, and more. The inscription to the book reads “To Whitney Straight with whom I shared a similar experience in Namsos (a town in Norway) and thanks for his collaboration in 1963 and 1972”. There is also an ALS from Hewins that reads, “I undertake to remove none of the material which Mr Whitney Straight has allowed to me to see. I will not quote or in any way reproduce the material shown to me without the Straight’s permission”. Straight was sent to Norway in April 1940 to help find the abdicating King Haakon. Did Straight’s material or own first-hand account influence Hewins’ revisionist account of Quisling?

Condition: The book very good, the cloth just a trifle faded at tips, gilt a little dulled, edges gently bumped but the binding tight and square. Top edge a trifle dusty else fine. The dust jacket price-clipped with some small chips and nicks, some light marks and bumps, gently rubbed joints, but a nice example. The ALS folded once and slightly browned at extremities. Scarce.