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MACDONALD, LYN: : 1915 - The Death of Innocence

LONDON.HEADLINE BOOK PUBLISHING,1993.

ISBN 0747204322.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,illustrated,1st edn. [Complete number line 10 - 1 descending.] FINE/FINE. No owner inscrptn and price-clip to dw/dj.Bright, crisp,clean,glossy,colour pictorial painting artwork illustrated front of dw/dj,with bright, crisp,capitalised,embossed gilt title at top edge to a grey marbled background horizontal band; author's similarly coloured+lettered name also to a similarly coloured lower edge band. Spine/backstrip with marbled pale grey background with author's flat printed capitalised,gilt-lettered name at its head,gilt numbered date of part-title only (1915) and a gilt-bordered colour thumbnail illustration detail from front and publisher's capitalised, gilt-lettered name and gilt-illustrated colophon,both to foot of spine; rear panel with colour illustration by Snaffles with critic's brown-lettered review.Negligible shelf-wear to edges and corners - one tiniest of snicks at front's top edge towards head of spine area and a small 10mm abrasion on front facing gutter's edge - else no other nicks,tears or splits present.Top+fore-edges bright,crisp and clean without foxing/spotting; contents bright,tight, clean,solid and sound - pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips, appears unread apart from my collation. Publisher's bright,crisp,unblemished,sharp-cornered,original plain dark brown cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked gilt-lettering to spine/backstrip and immaculate plain white endpapers.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,illustrated,1st edn, v-xipp+3-625pp [paginated] includes a Contents list/table,Author's Foreword and Acknowledgements,a List of 20 b/w maps,Pts 1-8 comprising 38 chapters in total; 32pp of contemporary b/w photographs in 4 blocks of 8pp apiece,between pp132/33, pp252/53, pp372/73 and pp492/93 respectively,a 5pp Bibliography, Author's Note and an Index.Plus [unpaginated] half-title+title page,individual Pts separator pages and to the rear,separate 2pp blanks. Visually the external appearance is exceptional,and even particularly internally,is also in an exceptional condition/state of preservation and presentation for a book of it's 30+ year-old age.It is only the minor faults described that prevents a slightly higher grading.Despite that,it really is still an exceptional,exemplary example for it's brightness,cleanliness and lack of other or age-acquired detracting faults usually/commonly encountered in a book of comparable age. Lyn Macdonald's magnificent books on the First World War - the fruit of twenty years' research - have established her as the War's leading chronicler.Her particular skill is in presenting the human face of what Wilfred Owen described as 'carnage incomparable and human squander'.To the soldiers who fought it and the officers who commanded them,the War was not seen like that in 1915.Although the first wild wave of enthusiasm that had sent men flocking to join up a few months earlier had tailed off by Christmas 1914, although the Regulars of the original Expeditionary Force had suffered 90 per cent casualties and the remnant of the British Army had gone to ground,most still believed that 1915 would see the breaking of the deadlock - particularly the soldiers themselves.            Their hopes were shattered on the bloody battlefields at Neuve Chapelle, at Ypres, at Loos and far away on the shores of Gallipoli. Disillusionment set in, grim resolve replaced easy optimism, and innocence died in the trenches that ran through the Flanders swamps. The story of 1915 is stark, brutal, frank, sometimes painfully funny, always human.Above all it is told from the viewpoint of the men themselves.Few other writers have collected so many first-hand accounts of the experiences of ordinary soldiers, through diaries, letters and interviews with survivors, and it is the dogged heroism and sardonic humour of the soldiers which shine through the pages of Lyn Macdonald's epic narrative.This book is a unique blend of compelling military history and poignant memories that is unlikely to be equalled. Please contact the seller,particularly ALL overseas buyers,because of the weight of this item - 1.2KG unpackaged,for correct,insured shipping/P+p quotes BEFORE placing your order, especially if ordering any multiples.   N.B. ALL buyers please note, stock(s') shipping quotes are adjusted for any refunds AFTER receipt of order and BEFORE the despatch of the order,especially if the item is offered either P+p included/FREE.                       ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware:  Standard US AIRMAIL to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **                                                                                                    

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,illustrated,1st edn.
Not SIGNED.

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