Mr. Churchill: A Pictorial Cavalcade of His Life and Extracts from His Immortal Speeches. Published by H. A. & W. L. Pitkin, London, 1945 – The copy of the Jewish-British diplomat Maurice Edelman, with his handwritten signature on the title page.
An important booklet printed on glossy, high-quality paper, presenting Winston Churchill — Prime Minister of Britain at the end of World War II — in a heroic and inspiring light, using a combination of photographs and excerpts from his famous speeches. Throughout the booklet are black-and-white photographs of Churchill documenting his life, from his childhood, through his military service in the Boer War, his tenure as a minister in various governments, and up to his role as Prime Minister during the war. It also includes excerpts from his renowned speeches, such as: “The Light Of Glory Shines On All” (April 27, 1941), “A Man in the Street” (December 26, 1941), “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few” (August 20, 1940), and concluding with his speech at the end of the war on August 15, 1945, following Japan’s surrender. All the photographs in the booklet are captioned and dated.
Israel Maurice Edelman [1911–1975], a British politician, journalist, and author from the Labour Party in Wales, represented the Coventry constituencies in the House of Commons for over 30 years, from 1945 until his death. He was born to a Jewish family in Cardiff in 1911. His parents had arrived in Wales seven years earlier, fleeing the pogroms of Tsarist Russia. During World War II, he worked as a correspondent for Picture Post and was active in the field of British propaganda against Nazi Germany throughout Europe. He was involved in efforts to influence public opinion in occupied Europe, particularly among neutral (such as Switzerland) or hostile populations.
He helped shape messages aimed at the global Jewish audience, seeking to balance the British government’s cautious policy regarding the suffering of the Jews with the desire to expose Nazi crimes. After the war, he was elected to Parliament in 1945 and held his seat until his death in 1975. He was highly active on issues related to Israel, British Jewry, and freedom of religion. He also wrote successful political novels, many inspired by his experiences in World War II and British politics. His non-fiction works include France: The Birth of the Fourth Republic and a biography of David Ben-Gurion.
[26] pp. Very good condition.
