CHURCHILL, Sir Winston (1874-1865). Statesman.
"THE DOMINATING POWER WHICH ENGLAND PLAYED"
A page from the working typescript of Churchill's biography of his ancestor John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, published in four volumes by Harrap between 1933 and 1938 as Marlborough: His Life and Times .
1 page 4to, typed, with numerous autograph additions and amendments by Churchill in ink, and with some underlinings and punctuation markings in red crayon, probably by the printer. This text appears on page 12 of the Preface to Volume II, published in 1934.
"There are many scores of histories of Marlborough in the English language, but no modern English work on this subject can compete with Taylor's Wars of Marlborough . . . It is, however the continental historians who give the most complete picture of this world war, and who reveal upon a European background the dominating power which England played under Marlborough's leadership. The standard French history by Pelet unrolls the panorama as it appeared from Versailles. The original documents of the highest consequence which are presented in this long series of massive volumes will repay the reader, apart altogether from the valuable comments by which they are pointed. The Histoire de Marlborough by Dutems is of special intererest because it was written by the direction and under the supervision of Napoleon, whose appreciation of Marlborough as a soldier was profound."
Marlborough; His Life and Times was recognised immediately as a classic biography, a position it has maintained. Churchill's ease of style and his masterly unravelling of a complicated narrative have assured its continuing popularity. In the 1920's Churchill developed a way of writing where he dictated first drafts of his books to a secretary who typed up sheets which he then edited, corrected and revised. This page is a characteristic example. However, it is not the absolutely final version as the printed text has minor variations, evidently decided later.
Corrected pages from Churchill's working manuscripts are rarely offered for sale.
Original filing hole at the top left, not touching the text.
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