Decline And Fall

London: Chapman & Hall, 1962. Book. Near Fine. Hardcover. Inscribed by Author(s). This copy inscribed and signed in full by Waugh to his godchild Emma Laycock. Emma Laycock was the daughter of Robert Laycock, Waugh's Commanding Officer in WW II. From Wikipedia " In November 1940, Waugh was posted to a commando unit, and, after further training, became a member of "Layforce", under Colonel (later Brigadier) Robert Laycock.[114] In February 1941, the unit sailed to the Mediterranean, where it participated in an unsuccessful attempt to recapture Bardia, on the Libyan coast.[116] In May, Layforce was required to assist in the evacuation of Crete: Waugh was shocked by the disorder and its loss of discipline and, as he saw it, the cowardice of the departing troops.[117] In July, during the roundabout journey home by troop ship, he wrote Put Out More Flags (1942), a novel of the war's early months in which he returned to the literary style he had used in the 1930s.[118] Back in Britain, more training and waiting followed until, in May 1942, he was transferred to the Royal Horse Guards, on Laycock's recommendation.[119] On 10 June 1942, Laura gave birth to Margaret, the couple's fourth child" A lovely copy, lacking the dust jacket..