On War: Translated by Colonel J. J. Graham, from the Third German Edition. Three Volumes Complete in One.

CLAUSEWITZ, Carl von.

Published by London: N. Trübner & Co., 1873

About this Item

First complete edition in English of the author's magnum opus, "the most profound exposition of the philosophy of war" (PMM). A scarce book commercially, this copy is complete with the portrait frontispiece, which is often wanting; just seven copies on auction records, four including the portrait. It first appeared in German as part of his ten-volume posthumous works (1832-7), edited and published by Clausewitz's widow Marie von Brühl. Vom Kriege (On War) is Clausewitz's (1780-1831) dialectical analysis of the function of war in human society. "The book is less a manual of strategy and tactics, although it incorporates the lessons learned from the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, than a general enquiry into the interdependence of politics and warfare and the principles governing either or both" (PMM). Carter and Muir's estimation of the continuing relevance of Clausewitz's work is sustained by Daniel Moran in his article on Clausewitz in The Oxford Companion to Military History, where it is described as "the most important general treatment of its subject yet produced" (p. 207). Sections of Vom Kriege first appeared in English in 1835, when "a substantial review article entitled simply 'On War' appeared on both sides of the Atlantic. In England, the unsigned review was printed in The Metropolitan Magazine [May-June issues] This was a London monthly edited by Captain Frederick Marryat, a former naval officer better known today as an innovative writer of children's literature. It was picked up in America by the Military and Naval Magazine of the United States [August-September issues], published in Washington, D.C." (Bassford, p. 36). Although Bassford says the Metropolitan review is unsigned, the correspondence of Marryat at Princeton University Library now establishes the author as Colonel Charles White (1793-1861), who served under Wellington in the Peninsular campaign and wrote several novels and travel accounts. White's 18-page review in the Metropolitan Magazine was illustrated by lengthy direct quotations, but the first complete English translation of Vom Kriege is the work of Colonel James John Graham (1791-1845). Graham served as judge-advocate in the West Indies, briefly as an engineer, and latterly as secretary and treasurer to the South-Eastern Railway Company in England, and military secretary to Sir Robert Hussey Vivian, commander of the Turkish Contingent in the Crimean War. He published his own Elementary History of the Progress of the Art of War in 1858. Very little is known of the circumstances surrounding the publication of this edition. "From a business point of view, the publication of On War was a failure. Only 254 copies were printed in 1873. Of these, 21 went to Graham and 32 were sent out as free review copies. Of the rest, 192 were still languishing in the publisher's hands in 1877. For some unknown reason, Trübner printed a further 440 copies in that year, and 572 were still in the warehouse in 1885. The book drew no substantial audience and Graham's material rewards thus appear to have been few" (ibid.). Despite this, Graham's translation remained the standard English version until the appearance of Michael Howard and Peter Paret's Princeton translation of 1976. It is still praised for its comprehensive, superior index. Printing and the Mind of Man 297 for the first edition in German. Christopher Bassford, Clausewitz in English: The Reception of Clausewitz in Britain and America, 1815-1945, 1998; Hew Strachan & Chris Bellamy, eds, The Oxford Companion to Military History, 2001. 3 vols in 1 as issued, square octavo (207 x 157 mm). With the portrait frontispiece; text in double column, occasional diagrams. Recent dark blue crushed morocco, spine with five raised bands, gilt-lettered and dated direct, gilt decorative turn-ins, marbled endpapers, gilt edges. Old library shelf number at head of title page, partially erased, occasional marginal pencillings and underlinings. A very good copy, handso. Seller Inventory # 169425

Bibliographic Details

Title: On War: Translated by Colonel J. J. Graham, ...

Publisher: London: N. Trübner & Co., 1873