Great Contemporaries.

Twenty one photographic plates. First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original blue cloth, spine lettered in gilt with blind rules extending over boards, publisher's device in blind to both boards, front board lettered in gilt, top edge in blue. London, Thorton Butterworth, Ltd.

This series of essays on 'Great men of our age' includes T.E. Lawrence, Trotsky and Hitler - 'We cannot tell whether Hitler will be the man who will once again let loose upon the world another war in which civilisation will irretrievably succumb, or whether he will go down in history as the man who restored honour and peace of mind to the great Germanic nation and brought it back serene, helpful and strong, to the forefront of the European family circle.' Great Contemporaries 'is, of course, an important part of the canon and belongs in every library' (Langworth). On receiving his advance copy, Neville Chamberlain wrote to Churchill immediately: 'How you can go on throwing off these sparkling sketches with such apparent ease & such sustained brilliance, in the midst of all your other occupation is a constant source of wonder to me' (quoted in Cohen).

Some light spotting to edges of text block and occasionally to the blank fore margin, faint partial offsetting to endpapers, neat contemporary pencilled ownership inscription to front free endpaper; spine just a shade faded, still a very good copy.

Cohen, A105.1.a.

Stock Code: 249916