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BENSTEAD,C[harles] R[ichard]: : RETREAT - A STORY OF 1918

LONDON.METHUEN,1930.

ISBN No ISBN.

UK,12mo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.[Author's debut novel.A total of 17 editions have been published between 1930 and 2008.]VG++/VG+. No owner inscrptn and an unclipped dw/dj - publisher printed price (7/6 NET) printed to spine.Bright,crisp,clean,matt,yellow/ mustard background with black border-edged design to front panel with black lettering within,black lettering to spine,and black lettering to publisher's books' advert to rear panel; with negligible shelf-wear or creasing to edges and corners - some minor nicks or closed tears present - but all with miniscule loss.Two small closed tears each to both upper and lower edges of rear panel of dw/dj - rear corners and rear spine/backstrip's gutter's edges.Corners rubbed with miniscule loss,spine/backstrip slightly darkened with both head+ foot of same with miniscule chipping and concomitant creasing or loss.Top edges with very light toning and no foxing/ spotting,fore-edges similar but with some minimal,faint,sporadic foxing/spotting otherwise both bright and clean; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound - pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners,appears unread - apart from my own collation.Bright,crisp,clean - virtually unblemished,sharp-cornered, publisher's original plain black cloth bds with blocked/stamped letters (title/ author) to front bd and bright,crisp, stamped gilt letters to spine/backstrip and b/w map illustrated front endpapers and near immaculate plain white rear endpapers.UK,12mo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,8-317pp [paginated] includes XI (11 - epitaph included) chapters,8pp (- 7pp paginated) publisher's advert/catalogue at rear,plus [unpaginated] title page,a dedication, contents list/table,and to the rear 1pp blank with printer's details to recto,and first page of publisher's books' advert/ catalogue. Described ard but fairly and honestly,it really is nowhere as affected as it might read or sound!! Particularly rare with dw/dj in as excellent a state of preservation and virtual completeness,as this example is. First published in England in 1930 and his debut novel,receiving both a critical and controversial reception,as the genre of Great War fiction was shifting from positive accounts of combat heroism toward narratives of disillusionment and loss. Author's debut novel,based on his combat experiences as a British Fifth Army artillery officer during the massive German advance in March 1918.In this theatre of battle,Benstead describes the cruel injustices of the war as he knew it and the inadequacies of religion to address the harsh circumstances on the front. Benstead's novel cleverly spans both phases through its tragic portrayal of an army chaplain driven to madness when his orthodox values hold no sway against the bloody realities of war and through its heartening vision of how devotion to duty can fortify soldiers sense of purpose and self-worth in the absence of spiritual faith. he book centers heavily on the British retreat as experienced by Padre Warne,an egotistical churchman ill-suited to the bitter realities of combat at the front.Warne shepherds a flock whose lack of interest in religion undermines his sense of significance to the war effort; and in the shadow of the overwhelming German army,he finds his faith gives way to fear,rendering him useless and removing even his personal significance to the soldiers.Juxtaposed against Warne is Captain Cheyne,a battle-fatigued soldier who maintains his courage in the face of insurmountable odds through an empowering sense of national duty. Since April 2013 and again in March 2015, and in this year too,the UK Post Office has altered it's Pricing in Proportion template,altering it's prices,weight allowances,dimensions and lowered it's qualifying compensation rates too! So,please contact seller,because of the weight/value of this item for correct, insured shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page!

UK,12mo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.

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