FORTY DAYS IN 1914 (Second edition - third impression - with four folded maps present)

Second edition, third impression published in 1925. The book was first published in 1919, with a second revised edition appearing in 1920, which includes a new Bibliography and two additional Appendices. The book was published with four folded maps in a card pocket attached to the rear pastedown, all of which are present as called for and in near fine condition. ***Near fine in bright-red cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The gilt is still beautifully bright, which is surprising considering the book is now 100 years old. The boards are clean, just showing some marks and rubbing to the edges commensurate with age and handling over the years (please see scans). Corners of boards slightly rubbed and creased. Head and tail of spines slightly creased, but no serious bumps or creases. No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Page block edges lightly foxed but clean - rough-edged to the fore-edge and bottom edge. Internally also near fine with no previous ownership inscriptions, and no obvious annotations. Internally the pages are very clean, with virtually no foxing - just some slightly roughly opened pages at the fore-edge (please see scans). No other serious creases or tears. All folding maps clean and in near fine condition. No dustwrapper. ***227 pages including Appendices and Bibliography at the back of the book. 225mm x 150mm. ***'Major-General Sir Frederick Barton Maurice, KCMG, CB (19 Jan 1871 - 19 May 1951) was a British Army officer, military correspondent, writer and academic. During the First World War he was forced to retire from the army in May 1918 after writing a letter to The Times criticizing Prime Minister David Lloyd George for making misleading statements about the strength of British forces on the Western Front. He also later founded the British Legion in 1921, and served as its president from 1932 to 1947. On the outbreak of war in 1914, Maurice was posted to France and assigned to Major General Hubert Hamilton's 3rd Division as its general staff officer, grade 1, or chief of staff, in late August and saw action at the Battle of Mons. He was promoted to temporary colonel in November 1914 and brevet colonel in June 1915. In 1915 Maurice, who in February was made a CB, was director of military operations at GHQ.' (Wiki) ***'The part played by our little army in the retreat from Mons and in the battle of the Marne is not yet appreciated in France, and as everything which has recently come to light strengthens the case which I presented nearly two years ago, it has seemed to me advisable to bring this book up to date without attempting to alter its scope. The new facts which have come to light show the ignorance of the Germans as to our strength and movements when we first arrived in France; the strength of the Germans at Mons, which was greater than I had imagined; the breakdown of von Moltke's machinery of command and his lack of control over his armies; while, most important of all, my contention that the advance of the British army across the Marne on September 9 was one of the decisive factors of the issue of the battle of the Marne is now supported by definite evidence.' (Quote taken from the Preface to Second Edition) ***A beautiful example of this important First World War study, with all folding maps present, as called for. Of interest to collectors of books about the Great War and military historians. ***We also have a first edition copy from 1919, which was published under post-war economic restrictions, and is printed on thinner paper, with a narrower binding. The first edition also has the four folded maps + an additional map - see separate listing for details). We have included pictures of both books to show for comparison. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.…