1955 Inside Africa

Description

Author's Presentation Copy, First Edition, Illustrated, Publishers' Original Binding, Signed

The first edition of this work, stating 'First Edition' to the copyright page with H-E, meaning the work was published in August 1955.

Author's presentation copy, inscribed to the title page, 'To Darling Audrey, always with profound love and admiration, John Gunther' and '48 Berkeley Sq (scene of a certain notable dinner!) Oct. 1956'. Audrey lived at 48 Berkeley Square from 1952 to 1962.

John Gunther's popular travel work on Africa, part of his influential 'Inside' series in which he explored various places in the world in continental surveys. With extensive interviews on the political, social, and business leaders of the day, as well as interesting discussions with the average person.

Illustrated with two maps.

From the library of Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie, from her library at Julians Park, Hertfordshire. After being widowed at 25, Audrey married the fabulously wealthy American department store heir, Marshall Field III, later divorcing him and marrying the Honorable Peter Pleydell-Bouverie. In 1940 she bought Julians Park and redesigned the interior. Her library was impressive, with many examples of her own bookbinding.

Audrey was an extravagant socialite and renowned beauty, the illegitimate granddaughter of King Edward VII (though she was also rumoured to be his daughter, or the lover of King Edward VIII), featured in the 'Book of Beauty' by Cecil Beaton. She had many high profile friends, such as Winston Churchill, Coco Chanel, Fred Astaire, and Nancy Mitford, a sparkling hostess of the Edwardian period, her hedonistic antics bringing her into the Bright Young Things.