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ROSKILL**, DSC, RN. Captain S[tephen] W[entworth]: : THE WAR AT SEA: VOL II - THE PERIOD OF BALANCE

LONDON/HMSO,1956.

ISBN No ISBN.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.NFINE/VG+.No owner inscrptn,and no price-clip to dw/dj.Clean,pale green background with black+green lettered dw/dj,with lightly darkened spine/backstrip and negligible shelf-wear to corners and edges. Inevitably,but minisculely chipped with reciprocal loss,to both head+foot of spine/ backstrip,top to corners also minisculely rubbed+chipped,again with barely perceptible, miniscule loss - otherwise solid and 99.9% complete.Top+fore-edges generally bright and clean; contents bright,tight,crisp and clean - with no foxing.Publisher's bright,clean,unmarked original dark green cloth boards with bright crisp,blocked gilt letters,author+title letters blocked to black,impressed rectangle to spine/ backstrip,and immaculate,plain cream/white endpapers.Head+foot of same minisculely bumped, corners sharp and unaffected.UK,8vo HB+ dw/dj, 1st edn,v-xvi+2-523pp [paginated] includes contents,appendices,b/w+red folding maps,tables+ illustrations lists,author's preface,19 chapters,15 appendices,42 maps,38 tables,30pp contemporary b/w photographs throughout the text and the book. Chronological Summary of Principal Events; Jan,1942 - July,1942, Aug,1942 - Dec,1942 and Jan,1943 - May,1943. Captain Stephen Wentworth Roskill,(1903-1982), produced the definitive and official British account of the conflict at sea between 1939 and 1945 (4 Pts in 3 volumes),his greatest achievement and a work of which he was justifiably proud.Roskill was 45 years old when he began the work,having retired early from the Royal Navy owing to gun deafness,an injury he received in peace and war having,as a gunnery instructor,been exposed to gunfire from the 1920's when there was no ear protection.The Official War Histories were taking shape in 1949 and the Admiralty began searching for an author and historian to record the naval operations. When the first,hghly acclaimed and praised, volume appeared in 1954,Roskill’s name as a naval historian was secured,and the book went into a second impression within five months, selling steadily thereafter.Roskill came under some official pressure to change certain aspects of his observations in this first volume and Winston Churchill,then Prime Minister again, objected to certain parts in the drafts.Roskill stood his ground and insisted on his complete independence.He was determined not to suffer the experience of his predecessor,Corbett,after the First World War.The outcome brought credit to both Roskill and Churchill and the book went to press followed by Volume II in 1956,Volume III, Part 1 in 1960,and finally Volume III,Part 2 in 1961(these volumes did not encounter comparable difficulty!) No mention could be made at the time,of Roskill writing of the Ultra intelligence (the vital role played in the war at sea,by Britain capturing and breaking the German ‘Enigma’ ciphers),although Roskill had known of Ultra since his time as Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence. However,if one reads Roskill’s study in the light of information since released,it becomes evident that he used great skill in order to surmount the problem. Roskill’s 4-volume work will stand forever as a monument to those who fought at sea to obtain victory and secure freedom,and as a monument to the author’s remarkable skill as a writer and naval historian. Please contact seller,because of the heavier weight and the value of this item too,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: US Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.
Not SIGNED.

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