The Great War. Fully Illustrated with Photographs, Drawings and Maps. by CHURCHILL, Winston S

Hardback. 1933. 1,688pp 4to George Newnes, London (1933). Bound in 1/2 leather with red buckram boards. The tops of 2 spines chipped, otherwise very good. .

London: George Newnes,, 1934. First illustrated edition in book form, first impression, of Churchill's history of the First World War, first published without illustrations from 1923 to 1931, here rechristened The Great War; from the collection of Churchill's bibliographer Ronald Cohen. Working with astonishing speed and energy, Churchill produced this mammoth history of the First World War in the aftermath of electoral defeat. The work deals with his reorganization of the Royal Navy in the years leading up to the war, defends his Gallipoli policy, and criticizes Haig's strategy. "The book as a whole was a stupendous narrative of the war in Europe featuring masterly set-piece accounts of major battles. Dictated to secretaries as he strode up and down the room, it exhibited his passionate interest in war and his romantic conception of the 'true glory' of the troops who perished on the Somme" (ODNB). This first illustrated edition was first published in 26 fortnightly parts in 1933, prior to the… Read More

London: The Home Library Book Company (George Newnes, Ltd),, [1935]. A fine set of the "most elaborate and final variation of The Great War" (Langworth, p. 119). Churchill's history of the First World War was first published from 1923 to 1931 as The World Crisis, illustrated only with maps and charts. It was abridged, fully illustrated, and rechristened The Great War for serial publication every fortnight between September 1933 and October 1934. A three-volume edition of this fully-illustrated and abridged text followed on completion in late 1934. This four-volume issue of 1935 consists of the sheets of the three-volume edition, in a new and attractive binding. "The book as a whole was a stupendous narrative of the war in Europe featuring masterly set-piece accounts of major battles. Dictated to secretaries as he strode up and down the room, it exhibited his passionate interest in war and his romantic conception of the 'true glory' of the troops who perished on the Somme" (ODNB). Provenance: the… Read More

London: George Newnes,, 1934. First illustrated edition in book form, first impression, in the deluxe binding of half morocco. Churchill's history of the First World War was first published without illustrations from 1923 to 1931, and is here rechristened The Great War. This set is from the collection of Churchill's bibliographer Ronald Cohen. Working with astonishing speed and energy, Churchill produced this mammoth history in the aftermath of electoral defeat. The work deals with his reorganization of the Royal Navy in the years leading up to the war, defends his Gallipoli policy, and criticizes Haig's strategy. "The book as a whole was a stupendous narrative of the war in Europe featuring masterly set-piece accounts of major battles. Dictated to secretaries as he strode up and down the room, it exhibited his passionate interest in war and his romantic conception of the 'true glory' of the troops who perished on the Somme" (ODNB). This first illustrated edition was first published in 26 fortnightly… Read More