"THE FIRST WAR 'CASHALTY' IN THEIR LITTLE WORLD HAS OCCURRED IN THE HOME OF THE GIRL WHO KNEW 'NUFFINK ABOUT WAR'"

SHARP, Evelyn. The War of All the Ages. London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 1915. Octavo, original beige cloth, original dust jacket. $600.

First edition of this collection of stories about World War I and its impact on the poor and disadvantaged, in scarce original dust jacket.

"A collection of short sketches and stories that depict the effect of war on the poor. Many of them take a cliché or phrase and defamiliarise it by applying it to another context. The first story, for example, 'The Casualty' takes a group of young boys playing at being wounded, who are interrupted by a mere girl who, in their estimation, cannot know what a casualty is. She then tells them that there is a 'casualty' at home: the baby, for want of food, owing to wartime unemployment has died. Most are in sympathy with those suffering from economic deprivations, those in league with suffrage activity, and those who understand the broader social and economic hardships engendered by war" (Ouditt, Women Writers of the First World War A169). "Evelyn Sharp was a key figure in two of the major women's suffrage societies in Britain, the militant Women's Social and Political Union and the United Suffragists. She helped found the latter and became editor of Votes for Women during the First World War. She was twice imprisoned and became a tax resister" (Angela V. John, Women's History Review). Pencil owner signature. Tiny bookseller ticket.

Book with faint occasional foxing to interior and wear and discoloration to boards. Scarce dust jacket with a bit of toning, stray mark to spine, and light wear to extremities. A very good copy.