Books

First edition, signed limited issue, number 70 of 155 copies signed by the author. This is the only signed limited issue of any of Churchill's writings. "Rarely in the history of historical writing have author and subject seemed so made for each other as were Churchill and the Duke of Marlborough. Churchill's literary skill enables us to understand Marlborough, but Marlborough, in turn, contributed to and advanced the education of Churchill... we can say that the writing of Marlborough helped prepare [Churchill] for the prodigious challenge that lay ahead" (Henry Steele Commager, introduction to the edition of 1968). During the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1715) Churchill's ancestor, the first Duke of Marlborough, led allied forces to victory against Louis XIV; his signal successes at Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde, and Malplaquet mark him as one of the great captains of history. Churchill worked on his biography for almost a decade, and was given exclusive access to the Blenheim archives to research the book. On publication, the work "took its place at once among the classics of historical writing. As the story of his ancestor's leadership of a grand alliance to prevent the domination of the continent by a single power, it was also a source of inspiration to Churchill in his campaign against appeasement" (ODNB). Four volumes, large octavo. Original orange Niger goatskin by Leighton-Straker, spines lettered in gilt with single gilt rule at head and tail, raised bands bracketed by rules in blind, Marlborough's arms in gilt to front covers, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt, others untrimmed. Portrait frontispiece to each volume, 99 additional plates, 14 facsimiles of letters, and 182 maps and plans, several folding. Spines lightly faded, else very good. Cohen A97.2(I-IV).a; Langworth, pp. 166-8; Woods A40(a).

Marlborough: His Life and Times is a comprehensive biography of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, written by Winston Churchill. The work details the Duke's military campaigns and personal life.