Books

London: Cassell & Co. Ltd., First Edition, First Impression, 1948-54. The Second World War: The Gathering Storm; Their Finest Hour; The Grand Alliance; The Hinge of Fate; Closing the Ring; Triumph and Tragedy. Six volumes. Octavo, full blue leather binding, with gilt titles, author s name and volume number in gilt, bands. Collated and complete with all maps, charts and facsimile documents. Tops of pages blue, damaged to the tops of the first few pages (to page 7) of Vol III. Title pages with name in pencil to the top. "The Second World War is a great work of literature, combining narrative, historical imagination and moral precept in a form that bears comparison with that of the original master chronicler, Thucydides. It was wholly appropriate that in 1953 Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature" (Keegan, 175). Approximately 8 � inches tall Condition Report Externally Spine good condition gilt titles, volume numbers and author s name with dividing lines, some marks and scratches. Joints good condition. Corners good condition bumped and worn. Boards good condition full blue leather or leatherette boards, marked and general signs of wear. Page edges good condition top edges blue, others plain, are tanned and foxed. See above and photos. Internally Hinges good condition. Front paste down good condition cream. Front free end paper good condition cream. Title good condition damaged to the top of Vol III; title pages with name in pencil to the top. Pages good condition complete with all maps, folding and in the text; facsimile documents with Churchill s facsimile hand writing; and charts; up to page 7 damaged to the front of Vol III. Binding good condition nice set. See photos. Publisher: see above. Publication Date: 1948-54 Binding: Hardback.

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.