Books

First edition, first impression, handsomely bound for the luxury purveyors Asprey, of Churchill's collection of essays on the outstanding figures of his age, including reflections on T. E. Lawrence, Trotsky, and Hitler; "it is, of course, an important part of the canon and belongs in every library" (Langworth, p. 179). On receiving his advance copy, Neville Chamberlain wrote to Churchill immediately: "How you can go on throwing off these sparkling sketches with such apparent ease & such sustained brilliance, in the midst of all your other occupations is a constant source of wonder to me" (quoted in Cohen). Octavo (207 x 133 mm). Late 20th-century red morocco for Asprey, spine lettered in gilt, compartments and cover borders decorated with gilt ornaments, marbled endpapers, gilt edges. With 21 photographic plates. Light foxing to contents. A near-fine copy. Cohen A105.1.a (with first state uncorrected text on p. 53); Woods A43(a). Richard Langworth, A Connoisseur's Guide to the Books of Sir Winston Churchill, 1998.