The Second World War

WINSTON S. CHURCHILL

THE

SECOND WORLD WAR

CASSELL & COMPANY LTD

LONDON

DESCRIPTION

Volume I The Gathering Storm 9th edition (1967) 724pp

Volume II Their Finest Hour 9th edition (1967) 683pp

Volume III The Grand Alliance 5th edition (1968) 818pp

Volume IV The Hinge of Fate 4th ed 2nd imp (1968) 917pp

Volume V Closing the Ring 4th ed 2nd imp (1968) 673pp

Volume VI Triumph & Tragedy 2nd edition (1954) 716pp

Books measure 215mm x 145mm approximately.

Hardback books complete in six volumes with dust jackets. Dates and editions vary due to the writing, publishing and printing sequence, although these are a uniformly bound set. End-papers and paste-downs with WSC monogram and emblem.

CONDITION

In good condition. The books are strong and tight. The dust jackets have a little yellowing and creasing to edges and the odd minor tear. Internally the pages are fresh and clean throughout, with a little grubbiness to the page edges of a couple of volumes. None are price-clipped and no inscriptions.

Overall, a nice set in good condition.

INTERESTING

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874 to 1965) was a British statesman, army officer, and writer. He was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945, when he led the coalition government in the Second World War, and prime minister from 1951 to 1955. Apart from two years between 1922 and 1924, Churchill was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1900 to 1964 and represented a total of five constituencies. Ideologically an economic liberal and imperialist, he was for most of his career a member of the Conservative Party, as leader from 1940 to 1955. He was a member of the Liberal Party from 1904 to 1924.

The Second World War is a history of the period from the end of the First World War to July 1945, written by Winston Churchill. Churchill wrote the book, with a team of assistants, using both his own notes and privileged access to official documents while still working as a politician; the text was vetted by the Cabinet Secretary. Churchill was largely fair in his treatment, but wrote the history from his personal point of view. He was unable to reveal all the facts, as some, such as the use of Ultra electronic intelligence, had to remain secret. From a historical point of view the book is therefore an incomplete memoir by a leading participant in the direction of the war.

The book was a major commercial success in Britain and the United States. The first edition appeared in six volumes; later editions appeared in twelve and four volumes, and there is also a single-volume abridged version.