CHURCHILL (Winston S.)
The World Crisis: 1911-1914; 1915; 1916-1918 Part I; 1916-1918 Part II; The Aftermath; The Eastern Front.
First editions of Churchill’s ‘mammoth history of the First World War. Although parts of The World Crisis were highly autobiographical, drawing on documents from Churchill’s private papers, the book as a whole was a stupendous narrative of the war in Europe featuring masterly set-piece accounts of major battles. Dictated to secretaries as he strode up and down the room, it exhibited his passionate interest in war and his romantic conception of the ‘true glory’ of the troops who perished on the Somme. But he could not write of the bloodbaths on the western front without sombre reflections on the growing destructive power of modern warfare: ‘Mankind has never been in this position before. Without having improved appreciably in virtue or enjoying wiser guidance, it has got into its hands for the first time the tools by which it can unfailingly accomplish its own extermination’ (Churchill, World Crisis, 5.454).’ (ODNB).
Just a hint of spotting to edges, partial offsetting to endpapers, contents otherwise generally internally clean and unmarked; light wear to tips of spines and corners, notwithstanding a very good set.
