The World Crisis 1911-1914.

signed

A superlative account of the prelude to and events of the First World War. It is still regarded as a defining work of twentieth-century history, reconstructing the action on the Western and Eastern Fronts, the wars at sea and in the air and the advent of tanks and U-boats. Churchill describes the Lusitania's sinking, the heroics of the Battle of Jutland, Verdun's 'soul-stirring frenzy', the bloodshed of Gallipoli, the Somme and Passchendaele, as well as the USA's entry into the conflict. It confirmed the author's reputation as a brilliant historian.

First editions, volume V 'Inscribed by/ Winston S. Churchill/ June 21 1929', the year of publication; 5 volumes in 6, a staggered publication from 1923 - 1931, vols I, IV & V with the errata slip; 8vo (245 x 170 mm); illustrated throughout with portraits, maps and plans, some folding, general age-toning to paper (as usual), some spotting mostly confined to preliminary and terminal leaves of vols I & II, the former has a couple roughly-cut edges at the bottom of pp 225-228, not affecting text, short split to map fold at p. 102 in vol. IV but in the main bright; publisher's navy blue cloth, blind embossed panels to upper boards, gilt lettering to spine, corners and spine ends mildly rubbed and bumped, commensurate with age, the odd superficial mark, some vols with spotting and offsetting to endpapers, upper inner hinge of vol. VI split but holding; together with 'A Criticism', first edition, [1927], 8vo (240 x 160 mm); maps and charts, bookplate to both pastedowns of the The Times Book Club, stamped 'Cancelled', so not filched, internally fine, save for offsetting to endpapers; publisher's blue cloth, darkening of spine, line of fading to upper board, bumped at extremities, rubbed on corners, otherwise very good.

Bibliography: Woods A31(a); Langworth 103.