La Lutte Sans Relache, the French language first edition of the second volume of Winston Churchill's war speeches
London: Heinemann & Zsolnay, Ltd., 1943. First French language edition. Paperback. This is the first French language edition of the second volume of Churchill's war speeches. The Unrelenting Struggle was published in England in 1942 with this French edition – La Lutte Sans Relache – following in 1943. The volume contains 72 speeches, broadcasts, and messages to Parliament from November 1940 to the end of 1941, some of the darkest and most uncertain days of the war. As dark and uncertain as these days were for the British, they were arguable worse for the French, whose spectacularly swift capitulation early in the war left their nation under Nazi suzerainty.
Owing to the Nazi dominion over France, this first French language edition was published in London. It was issued as an attractive wraps edition, the thin card covers printed in appropriate tricolor blue, red, and white. This copy is in good plus condition, sound and complete and seemingly unread, despite some superficial wear and soiling. The wraps binding is square and tight with no horizontal spine creasing. We note some wear to the cover extremities, some creasing of the covers, and overall soiling. The contents remain bright and free of spotting. The lower right of the title page features the sticker of a Paris bookshop – “L’HARMATTAN”. The upper right corner features pencil notation, the legible portion of which reads “London, 1943, 1st”. Item #007039
Price: $35.00