The World Crisis: 1916-1918, Part I

Toronto: Macmillan, 1927. 1st Edition. Hardcover. This is the first Canadian edition of the third volume of Churchill's acclaimed history of World War I. Of The World Crisis, Churchill bibliographer Frederick Woods wrote: "The volumes contain some of Churchill's finest writing, weaving the many threads together with majestic ease, describing the massive battles in terms which fitly combine relish of the literary challenge with an awareness of the sombre tragedy of the events." Churchill was in a unique position to write this history, having served both in the Cabinet and on the front; Churchill was First Lord of the Admiralty until 1915 and then, after bearing blame for the Dardanelles tragedy, served as a lieutenant colonel leading a battalion in the trenches. The events covered in this volume include Churchill's time commanding a battalion in the line.

The Canadian issue of Churchill's World Crisis was published in Canada from the American plates and is very similar in appearance. However, Canadian editions are quite considerably more scarce than either their British or U.S. first edition counterparts. Here is a very good plus copy of the third volume, 1916-1918, Part I. This is the only printing of the Canadian edition. The russet cloth binding is square and - quite unusual for this edition - unfaded, retaining rich color and bright gilt on the spine, making shelf appearance excellent. The undecorated boards show only a few trivial scuffs and marks. The contents remain bright and clean. We find no spotting and no previous ownership marks. The binding feels just a bit tender at the front hinge and the upper three inches of the endsheet are torn at the gutter.

Reference: Cohen A69.3(III-1), Woods/ICS A31(ac), Langworth p.109.