The Story of the Malakand Field Force, An Episode of Frontier War

London: Thomas Nelson & Sons, Ltd., 1916. Third edition. Hardcover. This is the Shilling Library edition, notable for both superior condition and the presence of the striking front face of the exceptionally rare original dust jacket. This title was Churchill's first book, recounting his experiences while attached to Sir Bindon Blood's punitive expedition on the Northwest Frontier of India in 1897.

Bibliographically the third edition (after the first of 1898 and the second, Silver Library edition of 1899), this edition was billed as a “cheap edition” during the First World War - a momentous time for Churchill which saw him serve both in the Cabinet and on the Front and which nearly cost him both his political and corporeal lives. It was published in April 1916, while Churchill was still serving as a lieutenant colonel of a battalion in the trenches.

This edition is a small, attractive book measuring 6.25 x 4.25 inches, bound in a bright blue cloth with blind rule bordered front cover, gilt-printed spine, and illustrated endpapers. Six maps are retained from the first edition, and there are 383 pages of small type. The edition was diminutive and fragile, and surviving copies typically show pronounced wear, soiling, and toning. The original dust jackets for this edition are as striking as they are extravagantly rare. The jackets were printed in black and pale yellow on thin, white paper and featured a striking black-and-white half-tone photograph of Churchill on the front face. We know of only four surviving examples of the dust jacket, at least two of which are in quite rough shape with considerable losses.

It is the front face of the dust jacket that is preserved with this copy, and this portion remains in lovely condition, bright and clean. The book itself is near-fine, particularly given the fragility of the edition. The blue cloth binding remains square, clean, and tight, retaining strong blue color and bright spine gilt. Light wear is confined to the spine ends and corners. The contents are notably bright and clean, with no previous ownership marks and no spotting. The binding and dust jacket front face are protected beneath a removable clear mylar cover.

When The Story of the Malakand Field Force was first published in 1898, Churchill was a young cavalry officer and war correspondent. While he had successfully applied his pen as a journalist, this was Churchill's first book-length work and he clearly labored over it: "I have discovered a great power of application which I did not think I possessed. For two months I have worked not less than five hours a day." The young Churchill was motivated by a combination of pique and ambition. He was vexed that his Daily Telegraph columns were to be published unsigned. On 25 October 1897 Churchill wrote to his mother: "...I had written them with the design... of bringing my personality before the electorate." Two weeks later, his resolve to write the book firming, Churchill again wrote to his mother of the project: "...It is a great undertaking but if carried out will yield substantial results in every way, financially, politically, and even, though do I care a damn, militarily." Churchill certainly experienced plenty more of both politics and war in the 18 years that elapsed between the first edition and this First World War reprint.

Reference: Cohen A1.5, Woods/ICS A1(c), Langworth p.24