Churchill prepares his final great work, his four volume “A History of the English-Speaking Peoples”

Comprises:

(1) Typed Letter Signed “Yours sincerely / Winston S. Churchill,” 1p, 7.5″ x 9.5″. Chartwell, Kent, July 12, 1955. To his chief copy editor, C.C. Wood. In full, “With regard to the Contents section, I may decide myself in accordance with my present plans. There are to be thirteen chapters in Book II. But V and IX are not complete. I am glad you find so few errors in the text. I have not yet decided whether it should be Thomas Becket or Thomas a Becket.”

Thomas Becket (c.1118-1170), Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170, is venerated as a Saint by both the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. After his death he was also referred to as Thomas a Becket.

(2) Typed Memorandum Signed “WSC / 15 VII” in red ink, 1p, 7.5″ x 9.5″. [Chartwell, July 15, 1955]. Penciled by Wood “15th July, 1955”. In full, “I send you the Returned Empties of the first four and final chapter of Book I. I will send you the other three as soon as possible. For your convenience I am also sending the copy you have just returned to me. The Returned Empties may lead you to make further alterations in it. Marked A and B. There is not going to be a Prologue, but only a rather lengthy Preface describing the theme and message of the work.”

Churchill’s “A History of the English-Speaking Peoples” was published between 1956 and 1958. He had begun writing it in the late 1930s after he finished his monumental biography “Marlborough.” Then came World War II. After the war, his masterwork “The Second World War” took precedence and then he was returned to the Prime Ministry. Churchill retired as Prime Minister on April 6, 1955; he wrote these letters just three months later. In his Preface he notes that the book “slumbered peacefully” until 1956, “when things have quieted down.” The first volume of was published in April 1956. There were four volumes in the set, the final one appearing in 1958. Volume titles: Vol. I “The Birth of Britain,” Vol. II “The New World.” Vol. III “The Age of Revolution,” and Vol. IV “The Great Democracies.”

Both letters in Excellent Condition

Item #604