Description
The Great War by Winston Churchill, complete in 26 parts, published by George Newnes Limited from 1933-1934. Individual volumes printed by William Clowes and Sons of London.
Octavo, [twenty-six volumes], all volumes fully illustrated with 64 pages. All with illustrated covers, titled and numbered on spine (except for Volume I), retail price of “one shilling” on front cover. Volume I has been previously handled, subsequent volumes all with light wear from handling. Volume II with faint tidemark along bottom edge. Housed in custom three quarter blue morocco clamshell, title in gilt on spine, cloth boards, bookplate affixed to front flap. (Cohen A69.9.a)
Originally publicized as a 24-part collection, the publisher soon after admitted the mistake and increased the print run to 26 parts. This revised edition of The World Crisis was abridged to 650,000 words, fully illustrated, and published in three volumes in 1934. The revised title, The Great War, was suggested by the manager of the George Newnes Book Department, Major Hugh Pollock.
Winston Churchill’s account of World War I was first published by Thornton Butterworth, titled The World Crises (in six volumes) and completed in 1931. Biographer William Manchester references the book and notes that “…his masterpiece is The World Crises. Magnificently written, it is enhanced by the presence of the author at the highest councils of the war and in the trenches as a battalion commander.”
