Kipling, Rudyard ~ The Irish Guards in the Great War. Edited and compiled from their Diaries and Papers : 2 Vols. Set With The Scarce Original Wrappers

Macmillan, London : 1923

A 2 Vols. set of the First UK printings published by Macmillan, London in 1923. The BOOKS are in near Fine condition with just a little pushing at the spine tips. Gilt regimental decoration to the front covers and the titling to the spine remain bright. Light offsetting to the front blank end-papers. Free from inscriptions. Frontispiece maps (by Emery Walker) in red and black, and 9 maps (2 folding) in red and black are all present. Top edges gilt. The WRAPPERS are complete and are in Very Good++ or better condition. A little wear with light loss at the spine ends with some mild toning to the spine. Light edge wear with some nicks and light creasing in places. The wrappers are protected in removable Brodart archival covers. Vol I: 'The First Battalion'; Vol. II: 'The Second Battalion and Appendices'. These two volumes discuss the experiences of the Irish guards from 1914 to 1918. The point of view is the battalions with the assistance of Regimental diaries, private letters and documents. Kipling undertook the history of the regiment in WWI following the death in action of his son John at the Battle of Loos whilst serving with the Second Battalion; a personal tragedy from which the author never fully recovered. The work was immediately recognised as both a military and a literary masterpiece. 'One could be assured that when Mr. Kipling turned his hand to a regimental history the result would be very different to the ordinary. The particular invention wherewith he has enriched this book is a sort of chorus - the comment of the private soldier upon the events narrated, which is witty and effective. Mr. Kipling has also brought to bear his magic upon that most matter-of-fact of records, the battalion war diary, and has made it live. Generally speaking he has composed a noble tribute to the great regiment in the ranks of which he lost his son' (Falls). Enser, p.66;Falls, p.117; Sutcliffe, p.14; White, p. 45. An attractive set and very scarce with the original wrappers present.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Near Fine
JACKET: Very Good++