My Early Life

Thornton Butterworth Limited, 1930. First Edition. Hardcover. Like New. AN ESPECIALLY HANDSOME AND FINE COSWAY-STYLE BINDING, full crushed morocco by Asprey, the upper cover with an inlaid oval portrait of Churchill set into the cover and framed with a fine gilt bordering of triple gilt fillet lines with further gilt tooled chain decoration, with large corner gilt tooled devices of rampart British lions and portcullises, the spine with raised bands separating the six compartments which are gilt tooled in panels and decorated with elaborate borders and with central gilt lion and portcullis devices repeated between the gilt tooled bands, two compartments gilt lettered and framed, double gilt ruled board edges, wide turn-overs gilt tooled matching the framework of the covers around red moire silk endpapers, a.e.g. In all a stunning binding. Housed and protected in a red cloth-covered slipcase. 392 pp. First edition, first printing. A very fine copy indeed, internally pristine and the binding without flaw. SCARCE, AND THIS AN OUTSTANDING COPY IN BEAUTIFUL RED COSWAY-STYLE MOROCCO, and one of Churchill's best of his many books, some say, his very best. It is an entertaining autobiographical work about his early years, up through his experiences as a soldier and the beginning of his political career. The work includes a daring escape reminiscent of the exploits of Indiana Jones after he had been captured by the Afrikaners during the Boar Wars, his escapades with the Malakand Field Force and the relief of Ladysmith and his entry into the House of Commons. It also includes intimate portraits of his childhood, family life and days as a cadet.