Books

Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1948-53. First American editions of Winston Churchill's masterpiece, preceding the British editions. Octavo, six volumes, original cloth, illustrated. The Hinge of Fate is an association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "To Sylvia from Winston 1951." The recipient, Sylvia Henley was "one of those who had known Churchill best, and longest. a frequent guest at Chartwell" (Gilbert, p. 307). Along with Jock Colville, Henley was one of Churchill's most frequent Bezique opponents; Bezique was Churchill's favorite game, as he was an expert player. Each volume is fine in near fine dust jackets. Housed in the original publisher's wooden box. An exceptional association, uncommon signed and inscribed and in the original wooden box. "Winston Churchill himself affirmed that ‘this is not history: this is my case" (Holmes, 285). Churchill was re-elected to the post of Prime Minister in 1951. "The Second World War is a great work…

In this volume, Churchill begins his account of the Second World War, analyzing the lead-up to the conflict, the policy of appeasement, and the events that led to the breakdown of peace.