THE SECOND WORLD WAR

London: Cassell and Co, 1948-54. 6 volumes. First Editions. A profusion of maps and diagrams in all volumes. 8vo, publisher’s original black cloth lettered in gilt on the spine, in the original dustjackets. xv, 527; xvii, 556; xviii, 629; xviii, 743; x, 558; xviii, 584; plus extensive appendices and index in each volume. A very well preserved and handsome set of the first editions, with bindings in excellent order and dustjackets in very nice condition with only light mellowing and a little rubbing to the extremities. NOBEL PRIZE WINNING FIRST EDITION. Upon hearing that President Roosevelt sought suggestions about what the war should be called Churchill replied, “The Unnecessary War.” According to Churchill, “There never was a war more easy to stop than that which has just wrecked what was left of the world from the previous struggle.”
Churchill’s heartfelt opinion is reflected in the theme of the first volume, “How the English-speaking peoples through their unwisdom, carelessness and good nature allowed the wicked to rearm.”
Sir Winston Churchill ranks among the greatest men of history. He was born in 1874, a descendent of the great Duke of Marlborough. After an education at Harrow and Sandhurst he entered the army in 1895 and embarked on one of the most varied and distinguished careers of the century. He acted as a correspondent for the Morning Post during the Boer War and his dramatic escape from prison in Pretoria brought him to public attention. He embarked on his political career in 1900 by entering Parliament. While there he held many major offices of state: Home Secretary, Secretary of State for War, First Lord of the Admiralty in which he oversaw naval operations for the First World War, Colonial Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer and eventually in 1940, Prime Minister. The latter office he would hold throughout World War Two and again from 1951 to 1955.
It is unquestionably his office of Prime Minister during the Second World War for which he is best remembered. His powerful leadership and inspiring oratory held his nation and the free world together throughout the horrors of that conflict.
He was a prolific writer, as this 6 volume set will attest, and in 1953 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in spite of the fact that the work was not yet published in full. In that same year he was distinguished further by being made Knight of the Garter by Queen Elizabeth II. These volumes were written and published over the course of seven years. Always submerged in multiple projects, he also finished his ‘History of the English Speaking Peoples’ and perfected his style of painting and wrote ‘Painting as a Pastime’ during this same time period. His death in 1965 sent the whole world into mourning and his funeral was one of the most moving public events of the century.