Description

“ONE OF THE MOST BRILLIANT TREATISES ON WAR THAT HAS EVER BEEN WRITTEN”: CHURCHILL’S THE WORLD CRISIS, FULL FIRST EDITION SET IN ORIGINAL CLOTH—PRE-PUBLICATION PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY CHURCHILL TWO DAYS BEFORE PUBLICATION IN VOLUME I

CHURCHILL, Winston. The World Crisis. London: Thornton Butterworth, (1923-31). Six volumes. Octavo, original navy cloth.

First English editions of Churchill’s important history of World War I, signed by him on the front flyleaf and dated “8 Apr. 1923,” two days before publication—one of a few pre-publication copies distributed by Churchill among his friends and colleagues. This excellent presentation set inscribed by Churchill for his Liberal colleague Robert Crewe-Milnes, Marquess of Crewe, who hosted the party where Churchill met his wife Clementine Hozier, the dedicatee of the first volume of this work.

“Not only the best account of the most tremendous convulsion the world has ever seen, but one of the most brilliant treatises on war that has ever been written” (Spectator). During WWI, Churchill served variously as the head of the British Navy, Minister for Munitions, and as a foot soldier in the trenches. The World Crisis offers his first-hand account of the British government’s massive efforts to win the war, and depicts the political events that would serve as object lessons for Churchill when WWII broke out. Illustrated with numerous maps (many folding), charts, facsimiles, photographs, and a large folding colored map at rear of last volume. Preceded by the American editions, although “the English is more aesthetically desirable… equipped with shoulder notes on each page which summarize the subject of that page… It is more popular among collectors who wish to own only one edition” (Langworth, 108). Each volume was issued separately. With all errata slips as called for; without scarce dust jackets. Volume V is second state, with errata slip at page 9. Publisher’s promotional card laid into Volume III. Cohen A69.2. Woods A31(a). Langworth, 105-108.

Armorial bookplates of Robert Crewe-Milnes, first Marquess of Crewe (1858-1945), the liberal statesman, in Volumes II, III, IV, and VI. Throughout Crewe’s sixty years in politics, he served at various times as Viceroy of Ireland, Leader of the Liberal peers in the House of Lords, Secretary of State for India, Minister of War, Secretary of State for the Colonies and Ambassador to France, and served along Churchill in various capacities for a number of years. “Before 1914 his position as a patient and clear-sighted Liberal in a hostile House of Lords gave him political significance and influence, but the collapse of the Liberal Party as a party of government during the First World War made his supple skills otiose. ‘War smothers all the aspirations of Liberalism’, he wrote in 1940, and war certainly smothered his active political career… From 1936 to the end of 1944 he led the independent Liberals in the House of Lords” (ODNB). A 29-year-old Winston Churchill met his future wife Clementine at a ball given by the Earl and Countess of Crewe in 1904.

A fine copy, scarce in this condition, most desirable with a pre-publication presentation inscription to a colleague.