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First edition, the dedication copy, inscribed by the author on the title page "To Winston Churchill an unbirthday [sic] present sent with affection & respect by the author E. Louis Spears Nov. 54", to whom the book was dedicated with Churchill's permission. The Fall of France was published on 29 November, the day before Churchill's 80th birthday. Churchill reviewed the typescript prior to publication and wrote to Spears on 10 August 1954: "I think it is a very fine piece of work, fully up to the level of your other famous war chronicles. I am of course much obliged to you for all the far too flattering things you say about me. those were not such bad days to live through after all, and I shall always be grateful to you for the help you gave me" (Churchill Archives, CHAQ 2/2/31/98-99). However, Churchill turned down Spears's request for him to write a preface to the book, believing it would be regarded as controversial by the French (CHUR 2/199). Churchill and Spears were friends and colleagues for many years. "In 1915 Spears had met Winston Churchill, then out of office, on the western front. Churchill admired Spears's courage and ability and supported him against French and British jealousy and suspicion. With Churchill's encouragement, he stood for parliament as a National Liberal, becoming member for Loughborough in 1922, a seat he held until 1924, and following Churchill into the Conservative Party to sit for Carlisle from 1931 to 1945. In support of Churchill, Spears opposed the foreign policy of the Chamberlain government. He remained a firm Francophile. on 22 May 1940 Churchill, as prime minister, made Spears his personal representative to the doomed French government of Paul Reynaud. Horrified at the humiliation and defeatism of his beloved France, Spears left Bordeaux for London in an aeroplane on 17 June with de Gaulle, recently one of Reynaud's junior ministers. A myth grew, nurtured by Spears, that he had gathered the general up and led him to Churchill, thus creating the leader of the Free French. His vivid and personal account of the fall of France, Assignment to Catastrophe, was published in two volumes in 1954 [Volume I, Prelude to Dunkirk, was published on 14 June 1954]; while scathing about the embryonic spirit of Vichy, it is admiring of de Gaulle" (ODNB). Churchill is, of course, a central character throughout the book. We have handled another copy of this book, with an undated inscription from Spears to Churchill. This copy is the earlier - on 10 June 1955 Spears sent the other copy, noting, "I did send you this book on the day of publication, but, since it has gone astray, I am delighted to send you another copy. If there is a book you should have it is this one for its theme is that of your finest hour" (CHUR 2/199). Churchill's posthumous bookplate, and that of his son Randolph, are mounted to the front free endpaper verso. Zoller B299. Octavo. Original red cloth, spine lettered in gilt. Cloth sunned and soiled, a little shaken, split at head of half-title in gutter: a good, well-read copy.
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