Diaries and Letters 1930-1939, Harold Nicolson (Edited by Nigel Nicolson)

£24.99

Diaries and Letters 1930-1939, Harold Nicolson (Edited by Nigel Nicolson)

Name: Diaries and Letters 1930-1939, Harold Nicolson (Edited by Nigel Nicolson)
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5485
Price: 24.99 GBP
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Diaries and Letters 1930-1939, Harold Nicolson (Edited by Nigel Nicolson) — First American Edition

Publication: New York, Atheneum, 1966

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 448.

Condition Report: Very Good. The book remains tight and square in its original blue cloth binding, though the extremities display minor bumping and rubbing characteristic of typical shelf-wear. The striking red top-edge stain retains its colour, while the rough-cut fore-edge and text block show only light, uniform toning. Internally, the pages are clean and bright, free of serious blemish or foxing, ensuring an excellent reading experience. It is housed in a dust jacket that is generally well-preserved but exhibits some visible toning to the spine, alongside moderate chipping, creasing, and small closed tears along the top edges and spine ends. Despite these minor cosmetic flaws to the jacket, the volume presents handsomely overall.

Catalogue Note: This is the first American edition of the initial volume of Harold Nicolson's celebrated diaries, covering the pivotal pre-war decade of 1930 to 1939. Issued concurrently with the Collins UK edition, this volume forms a crucial part of twentieth-century political and literary history. The text is notably illustrated with black-and-white photographic plates, offering intimate glimpses into Nicolson’s life alongside his wife, Vita Sackville-West, including their famous portrait at Sissinghurst, which is also featured on the rear panel of the dust jacket.

Finding an example that has not suffered significant sunning or severe wear to the dust jacket remains a modest challenge for collectors. The absence of modern restoration, intrusive previous ownership inscriptions, or institutional stamps makes this a sound, highly collectible addition to any library of British diplomatic history or Bloomsbury-adjacent literature.

Harold Nicolson’s diaries offer an extraordinarily candid, behind-the-scenes view of British political and cultural life during the turbulent 1930s. Spanning the period from his resignation from the Foreign Office to the outbreak of the Second World War, Nicolson chronicles his shifting political allegiances, his interactions with towering figures such as Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden, and his deeply personal life with his wife, Vita Sackville-West, at Sissinghurst. Perfectly balancing intimate reflections on literature and family with a sharp, contemporaneous critique of a Europe sliding toward conflict, this memoir serves as an indispensable firsthand record of a defining era.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Harold Nicolson, Nigel Nicolson (Editor)

Book Publisher: Atheneum

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Autobiography, Biography & Memoirs

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 448

Book Publication Year: 1966

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: Diaries and Letters

Country/region of manufacture: Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States

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.