Bethink Yourselves!

London: The Free Age Press [London: C. W. Daniel, LTD.], 1904. First edition thus; 4 x 7; pp. [3], 6-64 including text to last page; green wraps printed in red; some loss of paper to tail of spine and a small closed cut to bottom edge of front cover, else clean and well-preserved; very good.This translation of Tolstoy's thoughts on the raging Russo-Japanese War shows a fascinating snippet of publishing history in London at the beginning of the 20th century. 'The Free Age Press' was established by Tolstoy’s secretary and friend Vladimir Chertkov (also translator of the current work) who had been exiled to England in 1897. Managed by Chertkov and run by A. C. Field - it was dedicated to promoting and propagating Tolstoy's works. Said to had been "more Tolstoyan than Tolstoy," Chertkov's motto for his creation was "No Rights Reserved." Meanwhile, Charles William Daniel of London, who had developed a great admiration for the Russian author while working for the 'Walter Scott Publishing Company' in the 1890s, went on to establish the 'C.W. Daniel Company Ltd.' publishing house in 1902 with the sole purpose of spreading Tolstoy's ideas. Eventually, he would acquire 'The Free Age Press.'A label with the 'C.W. Daniel,Ltd.' imprint is pasted-on over the original 'Free Age Press' one.