Description
“AN IRON CURTAIN HAS DESCENDED ACROSS THE CONTINENT”: SCARCE COMPLETE SET OF FIRST EDITIONS OF CHURCHILL’S POST-WAR SPEECHES IN ORIGINAL DUST JACKETS, INSCRIBED IN THE FIRST VOLUME BY CHURCHILL AT CHRISTMAS
CHURCHILL, Winston. Post-War Speeches by Winston S. Churchill. Edited by Randolph S. Churchill: The Sinews of Peace; Europe Unite; In the Balance; Stemming the Tide; The Unwritten Alliance. London: Cassell, (1948-61). Five volumes. Octavo, original colored cloth, original dust jackets.
First editions, forming a complete set of Churchill’s post-war speeches (including the very scarce only printing of the last volume), inscribed by Churchill in the first volume, “From Winston S. Churchill to T.E.R Harris. Christmas 1948.” With related material laid in, including telegrams from Churchill and a calling card inscribed by his wife Clementine.
The bulk of Churchill’s speeches between late 1945, when he was voted out of the office of Prime Minister and became the leader of the opposition party in Parliament, through his second premiership of 1951-1955, up to 1959, when he gave his last public speech. Toward the end of the Second World War and after, Churchill increasingly advocated that Europe enter the approaching Cold War era as a united and resolute voice. “As Britain’s Empire has shrunk, her economic situation become aggravated and her military power abridged, thoughtful people have come to see that her place in the world can only be regained by the triple policy of Empire unity, fraternal association with the United States, and the assumption by Britain of a leading role in promoting the unity of Europe.” The speeches included in these volumes consider these topics among others and trace the development of Churchill’s call for European unity through the abatement of socialist party power in Britain’s parliament, the start of the Korean War, rising tensions in the Middle East, and the establishment of NATO. This set contains the rare first and only printing of The Unwritten Alliance, the last of Churchill’s books printed in his lifetime. Cohen A241, A246, A255, A264, A273. Woods A124, A128, A130, A137, A142. Langworth, 283-86, 294-97, 300-302, 308-11, 337-39. Laid into this copy are three telegrams from Churchill, a calling card from Clementine Churchill inscribed to the recipient (“My Husband and I hope you will soon be better. Clementine S. Churchill” in an envelope from 10 Downing Street, two facsimile Churchill notes and a book advertisement.
Books and dust jackets in exceptional condition. Very desirable inscribed by Churchill.
