Description
War Diaries of Field Marshal Viscount Alanbrooke: The Turn of the Tide and Triumph in the West, signed by The Viscount Alanbrooke.
Octavo, [two volumes], 766pp; 576pp. Black cloth (volume I), red cloth (volume II), title stamped in gilt on both volumes. Both volumes are first editions, with The Turn of The Tide being a second impression, and Triumph in the West being a first impression. Frontispiece portrait in both volumes, with nine maps in text. Both volumes in near fine condition, light wear from handling to volume I, stain to outer edge of text block, but not affecting the text. Both in very good dust jackets, bright and vibrant colors, retail price on front flap, even sun toning to spines. Volume I is signed by Alanbrooke: “With great joy to an old friend of W’s and a lover of this Kddn. Alanbrooke”
The private diaries of Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, were edited by the distinguished historian Arthur Bryant. Alanbrooke never intended for the diaries to become public, writing them to vent his frustration with British leadership and as a record for his wife. He reluctantly changed his mind after Winston Churchill released his war memoirs, giving little credit to Alanbrooke or his fellow commanders for field tactics. The diaries released by Arthur Bryant were abridged since Alanbrooke did not want to criticize anyone who was still alive. The full diaries were released in 2001 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, titled War Diaries 1939-1945, edited by Daniel Todman and Alex Danchev.
