Books

First Keystone edition, first impression, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper "Inscribed by Winston S. Churchill July. 1936", noted in a different hand on the title page, "For Lady Moyra Cavendish", and likely specially bound for presentation. Cavendish (1876-1942) married Richard Cavendish, tenth Duke of Devonshire, in 1895. She took up residence at the family Holker Hall, where she is noted for redesigning the gardens there, and took a prominent role in local institutions. The pair knew Churchill for decades - correspondence from Moyra from 1903 to 1935 is preserved in the Churchill Archives. The Duke served in Churchill's wartime government as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for India and Burma (1940-1942) and for the Colonies (1942-1945). My Early Life was first published in 1930. It was Churchill's only volume of sustained autobiography, covering his formative years from his birth in 1874 until his election as MP for Oldham in 1900. This edition reprinted the title as part of Thornton Butterworth's uniform Keystone series. Octavo (213 x 133 mm). Contemporary red calf by Bumpus, spine lettered in gilt, compartments and covers ruled in gilt, gilt turn-ins, gilt edges. Photographic frontispiece and 15 plates of which 12 from photographs, folding map, 8 maps and 2 plans to the text. Spine a little darkened and rubbed, contents a little toned. A very good copy. Cohen A91.3a.

My Early Life is an autobiographical work by Winston Churchill. It covers his birth in 1874 to his first few years in Parliament.