- 9
Churchill, Sir Winston. series of nine letters signed, to his publisher george harrap
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Churchill, Sir Winston. series of nine letters signed, to his publisher george harrap
addressed to "G.S. Harrap"' "George S. Harrap" or "George Harrap"' some with autograph salutation or subscription, two marked (one in his hand) "Private and Confidential"' discussing matters relating to the publication of work by Churchill: the first in 1929, thanking him for a cheque for £4000 and confirming that Harrap does not wish to transfer to Scribner "the Canadian rights"; the next six, written as wartime Prime Minister from Downing Street, 1940-43, concerning the dispute arising from churchill's inability to deliver a book on "europe since the russian revolution" because of the war (see below); the last two, in 1947-50, declining an offer to write because "fully occupied at the present time" and also declining to write a foreword to General Mark Clark's book Calculated Risk because of "very heavy" pressure on him
12 pages, 4to, on headed stationery of Chartwell, 10 Downing Street (six, one deleted in favour of "North Africa"), and 28 Hyde Park Gate, London, 28 June 1929 to 28 November 1950, spindle holes, minor creasing and soiling
together with a facsimile Christmas thank-you note by Churchill (1946); a telegram by him thanking Harrap for "a set of the new Marlborough"; and one of Churchill's printed Christmas cards
a notable series which throws light on churchill's dealings with one of his publishers in connection with an unwritten modern history by him
From his desk as wartime Prime Minister, Churchill writes to Harrap, on 2 November 1940, to inform him of the fact that it would not now be possible for him "to execute the work which we had planned together called 'Europe since the Russian Revolution"'. He cites their contract specifying his liability in the event of failing to deliver "the material for Section I" within three years, and states: "I therefore propose to terminate the contract, and I will shortly send you my cheque for the advance and the accrued interest to date"' asking Harrap also to arrange matters with George Newnes, "who advanced a portion of the money". Churchill expresses regret that they have "not been able to carry out this work together, but events have completely taken charge of our lives".
On 26 December, in answer to a letter by Harrap of 7 November, Churchill discusses his understanding of "Clause 7" of their contract, but insists on his having to cancel and return Harrap's advance with interest: "The situation has been so entirely altered by the War and the public duties imposed upon me, that as I have already told you I see no possibility of my being able to write the book we had planned together as set forth in the Synopsis." Ten months later, on 20 October 1941, Churchill belatedly answers Harrap's letter of 21 March, thanking him for his appreciation of the reasons for his cancelling and sending a cheque for £1500. On 17 November, however, he is obliged to respond to a letter by Harrap of 22 October returning this cheque. He is also obliged to rehearse the reasons for his cancelling, which he had thought Harrap had already "realized"; queries why "outside sources" need to be consulted; and declares that the £1500 remains at his disposal. He imagines, he says, that Harrap "will agree with me that a book on the subject to which our agreement applies is one that neither you would care to publish nor I to write, if ever I be able to write another book"' but affirms that he would hope to have Harrap as his publisher again if he were "spared to write on any other subject".
In October 1943, in a letter he marks "Private & Confidential"' Churchill notes that it is now more than a year since they communicated about their contract made in 1938 and that the delivery date of 9 June 1943 has now expired. He assumes, he says, that Harrap's silence means that he now accepts "my view that supervening events beyond human control have rendered our contract impossible of performance and that I am accordingly discharged from liability". He asks to know what money he owes so that the matter may be settled, adding: "If, contrary to my expectation and earnest hope, you are not in agreement with my views, then we must go to arbitration and have a legal decision on whether or not I am justified in my contention, long since expressed, that the contract has been frustrated." Finally, on 18 December 1943, in another "Private and Confidential" letter (written from North Africa [i.e. Marrakesh, where he was gravely ill]), Churchill answers Harrap's letter of 23 November, relating to their divergent views on what was agreed at their interview on 11 November. He accepts that Harrap is entitled to change his mind, but takes the uncompromising position of refusing to allow Harrap "to use the present circumstances as a bargaining lever in any future negotiations between us".
...Such a state of affairs, even with the super-added and inexplicable desire on your part that I shall retain money to which I have no moral or legal claim, does not commend itself to me. It may well be, for reasons which are beyond my control, that I shall never undertake the burden of writing any such work as you contemplate. I have no present intention of committing myself to any such obligation...No useful purpose will be served by either of us being left in suspense as to the existence or otherwise of an obligation on my part to your Company. Disinclined as I am to occupy my time with my personal affairs at the present time, your letter leaves me no alternative but to call upon your Company to submit the dispute to arbitration...
The publishing firm of George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd was originally managed by George Godfrey Harrap (1867-1938) and later by his son Walter Godfrey Harrap (1894-1967). Harrap published Churchill's Marlborough in 1933-38 and also his collection of speeches Arms and the Covenant in 1938. Despite Churchill's inability, for obvious reasons, to honour a contract made with Harrap in 1938 for a planned modern European history, and his understandable reluctance to remain obligated to Harrap with respect to any future writings, Churchill did eventually offer Harrap his History of the English-Speaking Peoples, which had originally been commissioned in 1933 by Newman Flower. Harrap declined it, however, and, after Churchill had received the biggest advance (£100000) yet made in England, it was published instead, in 1956-58, by Cassell.
addressed to "G.S. Harrap"' "George S. Harrap" or "George Harrap"' some with autograph salutation or subscription, two marked (one in his hand) "Private and Confidential"' discussing matters relating to the publication of work by Churchill: the first in 1929, thanking him for a cheque for £4000 and confirming that Harrap does not wish to transfer to Scribner "the Canadian rights"; the next six, written as wartime Prime Minister from Downing Street, 1940-43, concerning the dispute arising from churchill's inability to deliver a book on "europe since the russian revolution" because of the war (see below); the last two, in 1947-50, declining an offer to write because "fully occupied at the present time" and also declining to write a foreword to General Mark Clark's book Calculated Risk because of "very heavy" pressure on him
12 pages, 4to, on headed stationery of Chartwell, 10 Downing Street (six, one deleted in favour of "North Africa"), and 28 Hyde Park Gate, London, 28 June 1929 to 28 November 1950, spindle holes, minor creasing and soiling
together with a facsimile Christmas thank-you note by Churchill (1946); a telegram by him thanking Harrap for "a set of the new Marlborough"; and one of Churchill's printed Christmas cards
a notable series which throws light on churchill's dealings with one of his publishers in connection with an unwritten modern history by him
From his desk as wartime Prime Minister, Churchill writes to Harrap, on 2 November 1940, to inform him of the fact that it would not now be possible for him "to execute the work which we had planned together called 'Europe since the Russian Revolution"'. He cites their contract specifying his liability in the event of failing to deliver "the material for Section I" within three years, and states: "I therefore propose to terminate the contract, and I will shortly send you my cheque for the advance and the accrued interest to date"' asking Harrap also to arrange matters with George Newnes, "who advanced a portion of the money". Churchill expresses regret that they have "not been able to carry out this work together, but events have completely taken charge of our lives".
On 26 December, in answer to a letter by Harrap of 7 November, Churchill discusses his understanding of "Clause 7" of their contract, but insists on his having to cancel and return Harrap's advance with interest: "The situation has been so entirely altered by the War and the public duties imposed upon me, that as I have already told you I see no possibility of my being able to write the book we had planned together as set forth in the Synopsis." Ten months later, on 20 October 1941, Churchill belatedly answers Harrap's letter of 21 March, thanking him for his appreciation of the reasons for his cancelling and sending a cheque for £1500. On 17 November, however, he is obliged to respond to a letter by Harrap of 22 October returning this cheque. He is also obliged to rehearse the reasons for his cancelling, which he had thought Harrap had already "realized"; queries why "outside sources" need to be consulted; and declares that the £1500 remains at his disposal. He imagines, he says, that Harrap "will agree with me that a book on the subject to which our agreement applies is one that neither you would care to publish nor I to write, if ever I be able to write another book"' but affirms that he would hope to have Harrap as his publisher again if he were "spared to write on any other subject".
In October 1943, in a letter he marks "Private & Confidential"' Churchill notes that it is now more than a year since they communicated about their contract made in 1938 and that the delivery date of 9 June 1943 has now expired. He assumes, he says, that Harrap's silence means that he now accepts "my view that supervening events beyond human control have rendered our contract impossible of performance and that I am accordingly discharged from liability". He asks to know what money he owes so that the matter may be settled, adding: "If, contrary to my expectation and earnest hope, you are not in agreement with my views, then we must go to arbitration and have a legal decision on whether or not I am justified in my contention, long since expressed, that the contract has been frustrated." Finally, on 18 December 1943, in another "Private and Confidential" letter (written from North Africa [i.e. Marrakesh, where he was gravely ill]), Churchill answers Harrap's letter of 23 November, relating to their divergent views on what was agreed at their interview on 11 November. He accepts that Harrap is entitled to change his mind, but takes the uncompromising position of refusing to allow Harrap "to use the present circumstances as a bargaining lever in any future negotiations between us".
...Such a state of affairs, even with the super-added and inexplicable desire on your part that I shall retain money to which I have no moral or legal claim, does not commend itself to me. It may well be, for reasons which are beyond my control, that I shall never undertake the burden of writing any such work as you contemplate. I have no present intention of committing myself to any such obligation...No useful purpose will be served by either of us being left in suspense as to the existence or otherwise of an obligation on my part to your Company. Disinclined as I am to occupy my time with my personal affairs at the present time, your letter leaves me no alternative but to call upon your Company to submit the dispute to arbitration...
The publishing firm of George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd was originally managed by George Godfrey Harrap (1867-1938) and later by his son Walter Godfrey Harrap (1894-1967). Harrap published Churchill's Marlborough in 1933-38 and also his collection of speeches Arms and the Covenant in 1938. Despite Churchill's inability, for obvious reasons, to honour a contract made with Harrap in 1938 for a planned modern European history, and his understandable reluctance to remain obligated to Harrap with respect to any future writings, Churchill did eventually offer Harrap his History of the English-Speaking Peoples, which had originally been commissioned in 1933 by Newman Flower. Harrap declined it, however, and, after Churchill had received the biggest advance (£100000) yet made in England, it was published instead, in 1956-58, by Cassell.