"A COPY OF THIS WORK BELONGS ON THE SHELF OF EVERY SERIOUS CHURCHILL LIBRARY": CHURCHILL'S THE WORLD CRISIS, FIRST ONE-VOLUME EDITION

CHURCHILL, Winston. The World Crisis. London: Thornton Butterworth, (1931). Octavo, modern three-quarter navy morocco, raised bands, spine panels gilt-stamped with Churchill lion emblems, top edge gilt. $1200.

First one-volume edition of Churchill's important history of World War I, abridged and revised by Churchill and with a new chapter on the Battle of the Marne, handsomely bound.

"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). "Often passed up by collectors as a mere abridgement, this volume is essential to the complete library because Churchill added new material and considerable revisions… there is a completely new chapter on the Battle of the Marne. Also, writes Churchill, 'I have had to record a somewhat different account of Lord Fisher's resignation from that which appeared in the original edition. Mr. Asquith's disclosures in his Memoirs and Lord Fisher's own biographers have cast a less charitable light upon the conduct of the old Admiral than that in which I had viewed it.' (Asquith's memoirs disclosed that Fisher had written an incredible letter offering to remain at the Admiralty if vested virtually with dictatorial powers, refusing to serve under Churchill or his successor, Arthur Balfour.) As such, a copy of this work belongs on the shelf of every serious Churchill library" (Langworth, 114). Illustrated with numerous maps (many folding), charts, and facsimiles. The original six-volume edition was published between 1923 and 1931. Cohen A69.6.a. Langworth, 113-14. Woods A31(b).

A handsome volume in fine condition.