60 Great Books - 27 - Bauman Rare Books Rare Inscribed First Edition Set Of Churchill’s Monumental History Of The Second World War 25. CHURCHILL, Winston. The Second World War: The Gathering Storm; Their Finest Hour; The Grand Alliance; The Hinge of Fate; Closing the Ring; Triumph and Tragedy. London, 1948-54. Six volumes. Thick octavo, original black cloth, dust jackets, two custom clamshell boxes. $18,500. First English editions of Churchill’s powerful history of World War II, inscribed by Churchill, along with a letter from Churchill’s secretary regarding the inscription. “The Second World War is a great work of literature, combining narrative, historical imagination and moral precept in a form that bears comparison with that of the original master chronicler, Thucydides. It was wholly appropriate that in 1953 Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature” (Keegan, 175). Although preceded by the American editions, the English editions are generally preferred for their profusion of diagrams, maps, and facsimile documents. CohenA240.4.Woods A123b. Langworth, 254. Small book club inkstamp in Volume I. Laid-in to Volume I is a note on the Prime Minister’s letterhead dated 7 January 1955 from Churchill’s secretary indicating that the Prime Minister was glad to sign a book for a Mr. Lilley, apparently at the request of Colonel W. H. Barlow-Wheeler. Tape repair to versos of some dust jackets. Books fine, original dust jackets near-fine to fine. A very desirable and scarce signed set of one of the landmark works of the 20th century.
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