Books

First edition, first impression, a finely bound copy of the second volume of Churchill's memoirs, covering his early political career, the battle of Sidney Street, a near silence on Gallipoli, service on the Western Front, the negotiation of the Irish settlement, and thoughts on the "Mass effects of modern life" and life "Fifty years hence" The success of Thoughts and Adventures, a collection of Churchill's magazine and newspaper journalism written in the same lighter, informal style as My Early Life, came as a considerable surprise to the publisher. It was published on 10 November 1932 in a run of 4,000 copies, and three additional printings (of 1,000 each) were required in the same month, two of them before publication. Butterworth wrote to Churchill: "We are truly delighted at this success which confounds the Jonahs of the Bookselling trade... To keep pace with the increasing demand, we had to get both printers and binders to work overtime. The sheets were delivered by passenger train, and the cases were made by the binders in advance" (Cohen). Octavo (212 x 127 mm). Finely bound by the Chelsea Bindery in burgundy morocco, spine lettered and decorated gilt with lion centre tool in compartments, raised bands, signature block to front board gilt, single rule to boards gilt, roll to turn-ins gilt, marbled endpapers, gilt edges. Illustrated with photographic frontispiece, several cartoons. Mild foxing to title-page, an excellent copy. Cohen A95; Woods A39(a).

Thoughts and Adventures is an anthology of writings by Winston Churchill, compiled from various articles he wrote before he became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The book covers a wide range of topics, including personal experiences and political commentary.