To the War with Waugh

Whittington, London: The Whittington Press. Very Good with no dust jacket. 1973. Limited/Numbered Signed Edition. Hardcover. The original glue on the tipped in prospectus and frontispiece was acidic, had darkened, and bled through both pieces. Some wrinkling to the leaf where the frontis was reattached. Offsetting to title page from original glue of the frontis. Tiny dark spot to front endpaper. Small spotting to pages 24, 25, 55.; Largely a witty memoir of John St. John's time with the British Royal Marines in European theaters of World War II. His account of time in service highlights the ludicrous aspects of military life and the boring futility of tramping around Europe without enemy engagement. Evelyn Waugh was in the author's Royal Marines unit, was an occasional, conversational companion, and appears only sporadically in this ambitiously-titled memoir, mostly in incidents observed by the author. St. John also notes individuals and situations that were prototypes for what later appeared in Waugh's books. Some Waugh quotes are worth the ride. In restaurant conversation with the author: "Just wait until you meet a real personal crisis or look your own death in the face for the first time. When that happens we haven't a choice." As a reluctant battalion correspondent "...moustaches are growing luxuriantly, coughs are on the decline, battle dress lends a menacing aspect to the most peaceable characters." As an officer: "The continued use of obscenities in conversation is tedious and undignified. These words punctuate your speech like a hiccup. Instead they should be savoured and reserved for the creative act itself or for moments of the most extreme frustration." To confound a visiting officer: Was it true that "in the Roumanian army no one beneath the rank of Major is permitted to use lipstick." Illustrated by Peter MacKarrell. His humorous monochrome drawings include 12 plates, with 3 instances of those being plates spanning facing pages. Additionally, 24 in-text cuts are present. Introductory Memoir by Christopher Hollis, prolific English author who wrote a biography-bibliography of Evelyn Waugh. Copy 295 of a limited edition of 600, signed by the author on the colophon. Printed by John Randele, Rosalind Randele, and Charles Lowndes. Hand set in Caslon and printed on T. H. Saunders Mould Made Blue Laid paper which, from my observation, is not and has likely never been blue. Paginated x,55,[1],[1],[2 blank],[1]. Mustard yellow top stain to text block. The frontispiece photo of the author, tipped in to the first blank, has been reattached. The publisher's broadside prospectus glued into the publisher's acetate jacket, both as-issued for this edition, has been reattached. Paper title label laid down to the full linen binding, wonderfully printed with William Morris' Willow Bough textile and wallpaper pattern of willow leaves and twigs. Pastedowns and endpapers in pale green marbling by Charles Lowndes. In the publisher's clear acetate jacket. Includes the original airmail letter from Blackwell's, Oxford, acknowleding the order of this copy for librarian and bibliophile Walter J. Winkler. This is a humorous read about the ludicrousity of military life, with Waugh's wit thrown in occasionally. An attractive copy and about Very Good.; B&W Drawings; 4to 11" - 13" tall .