Charles De Gaulle | War Memoirs, London, 1955-1959, 4 vols, Inscribed to Clement Attlee

Charles De Gaulle

War Memoirs, London, 1955-1959

Four volumes, comprising:

i) War Memoirs: The Call to Honour 1940-1942, London: Collins, 1955. PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO CLEMENT ATTLEE ("Au tres honourable M. Clement Attlee, en souvenir et avec les meilleurs vieux de C. de Gaulle, 6 November 1955"), first English edition, 8vo (208 x 134mm.), half-title, photographic frontispiece, maps and photographs, publisher's teal cloth, spine lettered in gilt, slightly rubbed at extremities, top edge slightly foxed

ii) War Memoirs: The Call to Honour 1940-1942: Documents, London: Collins, 1955. 8vo (209 x 137mm.), half-title, publisher's red cloth, spine lettered in gilt, half-title slightly browned, upper cover very lightly soiled

iii) War Memoirs: Unity 1942-1944, London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1959. PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO CLEMENT ATTLEE (""Pour Lord Attlee en bien cordial et fidèle souvenir, C. de Gaulle, 20.0.59"), 8vo (208 x 137mm.), half-title, publisher's green cloth, spine lettered in gilt, top edge slightly foxed, spine slightly sunned

iv) War Memoirs: Unity 1942-1944: Documents, London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1959. PRESENTATION COPY SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR ("C. de Gaulle, 20.9.59"), 8vo (208 x 137mm.), half-title, publisher's navy blue cloth, spine lettered in gilt, spine sunned

“...He was damned awkward. He always had to assert himself. Partly his nature, I suppose. I think he’s mellowed since but he was very angry at that time. But he’s a good fellow. I’ve got a great admiration for him. And he’s got a nice wit. I reviewed a book of his after the war. I said, ‘General de Gaulle is a very good soldier and a very bad politician.’ So he wrote back to me and said, ‘I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.’ A good jest on his part...” (Clement Attlee on Charles de Gaulle, in A Prime Minister Remembers)

DE GAULLE'S WAR MEMOIRS INSCRIBED TO BRITAIN'S WARTIME DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER. The two men had developed a relationship of mutual respect - if not personal warmth - whilst working together during World War II. 

For Clement Attlee, see also lots 253, 291, 293, 316, 348, and 375

PROVENANCE:

Clement Attlee, bookplates