WAUGH (Evelyn).

Sword of Honour. A final version of the novels Men at Arms (1952), Officers and Gentlemen (1955), Unconditional Surrender (1961).

Uncorrected proof copy of the first collected edition. 8vo. Original printed wrappers. London, Chapman and Hall, 1965.

£300.00

The ‘Authors’ [sic] Note’ reads: ‘The three books, of which this is a recension, appeared at intervals throughout a decade with the less than candid assurance (dictated by commercial interest) that each was to be regarded as a separate, independent work. It was unreasonable to expect the reader to keep in mind the various characters; still more to follow a continuous, continued plot. Repetitions and discrepancies occurred, which, I hope, are here excised. I have also removed passages which, on re-reading, appeared tedious. The product is intended (as it was originally) to be read as a single story. I sought to give a description of the Second World War as it was seen and experienced by a single, uncharacteristic Englishman, and to show its effect on him. For this purpose I invented three clowns who have prominent parts in the structure of the story, but not in its theme.’

Minor creasing to spine ends and corners, covers only slightly marked, notwithstanding a very good copy indeed.

Stock No.
254691