A Test to Destruction, Henry Williamson — 1st Edition

£65.10

A Test to Destruction, Henry Williamson — 1st Edition

Name: A Test to Destruction, Henry Williamson — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4108-RM-F-VG-9
Price: 65.10 GBP
Availability: InStock

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£65.10

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Publication: London, Macdonald, 1960

Formatting: 8vo, pp. viii, 461, [3].

Condition Report: Very Good. The book is securely bound in its original vibrant red cloth, with the spine's gilt titling remaining bright and unoxidised. The binding is tight and square, showing only minimal shelf-wear to the extremities. The primary physical flaw is noticeable, localized foxing peppered across the fore-edge and top edge of the text block; however, the interior pages remain predominantly crisp, clean, and highly readable. The original dust jacket is unclipped, retaining the '18/- net' price on the front flap, and is free of major tears or paper loss. The jacket exhibits light edge-wear, minor rubbing to the corners, and a degree of typical age-toning, most evident on the spine and the lighter panels of the inner flaps, but remains a highly presentable and intact example.

Catalogue Note: First edition, first impression of the eighth instalment in Henry Williamson's monumental fifteen-volume, semi-autobiographical sequence, A Chronicle of Ancient Sunlight.

The book retains its original, striking dust jacket, which is highly sought after by collectors of the series. The wraparound charcoal-style illustration, beautifully capturing the sombre reality of the trenches, is the work of James Broom Lynne, who provided the iconic jacket art for the entirety of the Chronicle cycle.

Finding complete, unclipped first editions from the middle of this sequence in solid, collectable condition has become increasingly difficult on the open market, as they are essential to completing the full cycle of Phillip Maddison's saga.

Set against the harrowing backdrop of 1918, A Test to Destruction is a powerful, immersive novel following the wartime experiences of Phillip Maddison. Serving as a transport officer with the Fifth Army in France, Maddison is thrust into the chaos and carnage of the devastating German Spring Offensive. Williamson brilliantly captures not only the visceral horror, exhaustion, and camaraderie of the Western Front, but also the profound, disorienting shock of survival in the immediate aftermath of peace. It is a masterful exploration of a young man tested to his absolute limits by the machinery of war, left to navigate the haunting transition back to a fractured civilian world.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Henry Williamson

Book Publisher: Macdonald & Co

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Modern Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 461

Book Publication Year: 1960

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Cloth

Illustrator: James Broom Lynne (Dust Jacket)

Book Series: A Chronicle of Ancient Sunlight

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.