SIGNED BY JOHN MAJOR

MAJOR, John. John Major. The Autobiography. (London): HarperCollins, (1999). Octavo, original black paper boards, original dust jacket. $175.

First edition of John Major's autobiography, signed on the title page by him.

"The best memoir by a senior politician for years" (Sunday Times). John Major's "political career was remarkable. From humble beginnings, he rose rapidly through local and national politics to join the Cabinet only eight years after becoming an MP. Then, as Prime Minister, he had two years of rising success to a general election victory in 1992 in which he received more votes than any Prime Minister before or since. Then came the Great Fall… This is a balanced book from a balanced man. If he makes a sharp comment about a colleague, in the very same sentence he will add a softening touch… His most striking phrase was 'a country at ease with itself'. It was a noble aim from a fundamentally decent man but his personal tragedy was he was not able to fashion that harmony. By 1997, the country was very uneasy, dismayed by the wave of sleaze and amazed by the internal backbiting in a government that had lost its way" (The Guardian). Tony Blair followed, but his decade-long leadership was in many ways facilitated by Major's successes in Northern Ireland and with economic recovery. Presentation label on half title from Schofield Lothian, a construction consultancy.

Book fine, dust jacket with small corner tear. Very nearly fine condition.