Tenth printing. 8vo. Original black cloth, spine lettered and ruled in gilt, top edge in red. Housed in a custom cloth chemise and half blue morocco slipcase. New York, Simon and Schuster, 1941.
A magnificent presentation copy, inscribed by the author to Winston S. Churchill in pencil on the front free endpaper and with Churchill's posthumous bookplate, and that of his son Randolph S. Churchill, to the front pastedown. The lengthy and rather grandiose inscription reads:
'To the Greatest Englishman of these or any other times – Prime Minister Winston Churchill, upon whom now rests the Terrifying responsibility of now salvaging from Victory in War, the Security of Peace for at least a generation or two in a sick world. With great respect and the long standing admiration of one who is "serving in the ranks." Joseph E. Davies. May 26th, 1945.'
Ambassador Joseph E. Davis served as the United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union until 1938, when he was recalled to serve as Special Assistant to Secretary of State Cordell Hull. During World War II, he served as Special Envoy of President Truman to the Potsdam Conference, meeting frequently with Prime Minister Winston Churchill. This book was inscribed to Churchill during the preparatory sessions for the Potsdam Conference, which began in July of 1945.
