The Man Who Disobeyed: Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien and His Enemies, A. J. Smithers

£50.00

The Man Who Disobeyed: Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien and His Enemies, A. J. Smithers

Name: The Man Who Disobeyed: Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien and His Enemies, A. J. Smithers
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5715
Price: 50.00 GBP
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The Man Who Disobeyed: Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien and His Enemies, A. J. Smithers — 1st Edition

Publication: London, Leo Cooper, 1970

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 303.

Condition Report: Near Fine. This copy is bound in the publisher's original red cloth, which remains exceptionally sharp and unrubbed with bright, unoxidised gilt tooling to the spine. The binding is remarkably tight and square, showing no evidence of lean or significant shelf-wear to the extremities. The text block and page edges are entirely clean, bright, and free from foxing. The original, unclipped dust jacket is similarly excellent, retaining vibrant colour with only the slightest hint of minor crinkling to the top edge of the spine panel, now carefully preserved in a protective sleeve. Internally, the book is crisp, bright, and free of previous ownership signatures.

Catalogue Note: This is a true first edition, first printing of A. J. Smithers’s robust biography, complete with its original dust jacket and all listed black-and-white photographic illustrations.

The title examines the complex and frequently misunderstood career of General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien. Highly regarded as a military history release under the esteemed Leo Cooper imprint, the book holds strong appeal for collectors of First World War and Zulu War history.

First editions of this title in such well-preserved condition are increasingly uncommon on the open market, particularly with the original dust jacket in an unclipped and bright state.

The Man Who Disobeyed stands as a compelling reappraisal of General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien, an exceptional British soldier whose distinguished service spanned from the battles of Isandhlwana and Omdurman to the muddy trenches of the First World War. Focusing intimately on his personal gallantry as a regimental officer and his eventual leadership in the field, A. J. Smithers meticulously chronicles the highlights of Smith-Dorrien’s career, including his legendary tactical actions at Le Cateau which arguably saved the British Army from annihilation. Ultimately, the biography is a stark exploration of how a commander possessing rare coolness, intrepidity, and determination was brought down not by the enemy, but by the jealousy and spite of his own superiors, cementing his legacy as a great soldier.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: A. J. Smithers

Book Publisher: Leo Cooper

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: History

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 303

Book Publication Year: 1970

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Plymouth, 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.