Books

First edition, first state, of Churchill's second book, based on his own role as a war reporter in the Anglo-Egyptian reconquest of Sudan. This copy is from the collection of Churchill's bibliographer Ronald Cohen. "Arguably the most aesthetically beautiful of original trade editions of Churchill's books, The River War is a brilliant history of British involvement in the Sudan and the campaign for its reconquest: arresting, insightful, with tremendous narrative and descriptive power... [the] features of that now distant campaign Churchill impressively captures in precise detail and exciting narrative, including his own role in the last great cavalry charge of British history. Finely written chapters trace the history of the Sudan, the rise of the Mahdi, the martyr's death of Gordon and, apparently not much exaggerated, the author's adventures" (Langworth, p. 27). Churchill himself calls it, in the first sentence, "a tale of blood and war". The first state is distinguished by the absence of a quotation mark on p. 459 of vol. II. Provenance: Ronald Cohen, with his ownership inscription in pencil on the half-title of vol. I and the initial blank of vol. II. Cohen's Bibliography of the Writings of Sir Winston Churchill, published in three volumes in 2006, is the authoritative source for collectors, librarians, and dealers. Two vols, octavo. Original dark blue cloth, titles and pictorial decoration gilt to spines and front covers, top edges rough-trimmed, black endpapers. Photogravure portrait frontispiece to each vol. and 5 similar plates (further photogravure in text), 23 colour maps and battles plans of which 20 folding, other maps and illustrations to the text. Bookseller ticket of Hugh Rees of London to front pastedowns. Cloth a little soiled and rubbed, slight residue to front covers, neat repair to inner hinges with superficial splits remaining, some leaves opened a little roughly, a little toned and foxed. A good copy. Cohen A2.1.a; Woods A2(a). Richard M. Langworth, A Connoisseur's Guide to the Books of Sir Winston Churchill, 1998.

The River War: An Historical Account of the Reconquest of the Soudan (1899), by Winston Churchill, is a history of the British imperial involvement in the Sudan and the campaign to reconquer the Sudan following the defeat of the revolt led by the Mahdist leader, Muhammad Ahmad.