Turner Donovan Military Books - The world’s finest selection of rare and out-of-print books on British military history from 1800 to 1945
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BAKER (George) The Soul of a Skunk: The Autobiography of A Conscientious Objector. 1st Ed., x+274pp. Eric Partidge Ltd., at The Scholartis Press. 1930  #64671
[HLMainPic] First (& only) Edition "consists of 1000 copies, of which 945 are for sale." This example with ink author inscrip. below the limitation, "George Baker" together with a folded tipped-in ms. letter from the author, Oct. 8th 1932, to "Dear Henry Williamson, Many thanks. Here is the book...About the autobiography's title; before & during the war conscription period 1916-1918 as a pacifist propagandist I was called 'skunk' with delightful vigour by various less delightful 'patriots.'... 'A self-damaging title' - yes, chiefly because it was too true to be good..." and more of interest. Plus loosely inserted postcard addressed to G. Baker (but possibly not sent, as present here), approx. 200 words, 22/10/32, handwritten & signed off "HW" in which Williamson says "You should forget Upton Sinclair. He writes to sell his books like any other writer, for appreciation, for the glory of his ideas, which are a blend of himself and his early environment. Such men are invariably seeking power for themselves..." He goes on: "What you say about me is all wrong. But I try to keep what I feel deeply (or youngly) out of my books, except by inference. If U. Sinclair was a great artists (& he isn't) he would alter the lives, or the imaginative lives, of those who hate his particular theories..." Orig. red cloth, titled in black, sp. & shoulder of rear board sunned, o/w & a very interesting copy of a rare account of a conscientious objector. See illustrations on our website.   £1500

     




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