In one of my previous lives as an editor and publisher, I caused this elegant edition of Winston Churchill's The Second World War (Six Volume Boxed Set) to be published.
Every so often Houghton Mifflin refreshes the jacket and box art, but my central concept remains the same: "Stack 'em, box 'em, and make 'em buy them all at once." When I first suggested this format, the sales department opposed it saying it would be "too expensive" on the one hand, and "cut into the declining sales of the separate hard cover volumes" on the other. Such is the genius of sales departments at book publishers. In the end I prevailed and this edition now seems to be a perennial. Amazon sells it for $75 a pop which isn't bad when you consider it's around $12.50 a volume with a spiffy box to keep them in -- and that the hard cover set goes for $416 new (If you can find it) and around $280 used.
Since I published that set I've maintained a small collection of distinguished publications that have a Churchillian theme. I'm always on the look out to expand it by adding other distinguished publications.
This morning I found this on eBay and am considering a purchase in order to enhance my scholarly knowledge of all things Churchillian. Would it be so wrong?
Amazing magazine photo. Maybe not the prettiest face, but the perkiest boobs?
Posted by: at March 8, 2010 12:35 PMGorgeous, you must buy this for literature's sake
Posted by: Uncle Mikey at March 8, 2010 1:11 PMWell, it beats a boxed collection of lectures by Ward Churchill.
Posted by: Daniel K Day at March 8, 2010 1:17 PMRIMSHOT!
Posted by: vanderleun at March 8, 2010 1:21 PMYou can never have too much Winnie...boobs too.
Posted by: Thud at March 8, 2010 1:27 PMI have a boxed set of Churchill in paperback - tenth printing was July 1974.
Posted by: WWWebb at March 8, 2010 4:01 PMWhoops - date was for ninth printing.
Posted by: WWWebb at March 8, 2010 4:03 PMI own that edition. Thanks, Gerard!
Posted by: pst314 at March 8, 2010 5:25 PMI have the Churchill series in hardcover - picked up at used bookstores and as gifts from friends/family.
The words on the cover say 'face', but that isn't where the focus is - and I approve of that.
Posted by: Mikey NTH at March 8, 2010 5:48 PMIt's chur chilly, Anna.
Posted by: Rob De Witt at March 8, 2010 5:52 PMTierney? Lake?
Posted by: TmjUtah at March 8, 2010 7:25 PMLake.
Posted by: vanderleun at March 8, 2010 7:37 PMDear Mr. Vanderleun: You were the one responsible for that set? Hip hip hooray! Could I entice you to go to Scribner's editorial staff, which published Churchill's six volumes on World War One, THE WORLD CRISIS, and get them republished as THE SECOND WORLD WAR was? Trying to find the original hardcover set of THE WORLD CRISIS is a dam pricey project these days. Failing that, how about WSC's account of his 1908 safari in Uganda, MY AFRICAN JOURNEY? Also pricey in the original.
After that achievement, you have justified your existence. Let the examiner's at Heaven's gate sulk, as you sweep past them en route to the Elysian fields.
Sincerely yours,
Gregory Koster
Your place in heaven is secure, Gerard. I got the set as a graduation gift in 1998, and it's traveled many many thousands of miles since then, I second Gregory's motion of giving "The World Crisis" the same treatment.
Posted by: Steve Neal at March 8, 2010 10:05 PMWho wouldn't love a cigar chomping, brandy snifting curmudgeonly old soul like Sir Winston? And so like our current leader, except for being white of course. Ronnie and Nancy used to read a chapter from this very fine set every night.
Just wondering though, were you also behind the boxed set of Winnie the Pooh? Another one of our faves.
Posted by: MOTUS at March 10, 2010 10:19 AMVeronica Lake died in Galveston Texas.
I believe she was a waitress at the time.
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