The Spirit in the Cage, Peter Churchill — 1st Edition

£45.00

The Spirit in the Cage, Peter Churchill — 1st Edition

Name: The Spirit in the Cage, Peter Churchill — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5131
Price: 45.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Hodder and Stoughton, 1954.

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 251.

Condition Report: Near Fine. The blue cloth boards are exceptionally bright and pristine, with sharp corners and unrubbed edges, and the gilt lettering to the spine remains remarkably brilliant. The binding is entirely tight and square. Internally, the pages are crisp, clean, and free of foxing, though the text block edges exhibit mild, uniform age-toning typical for the paper stock of this era. The original unclipped dust jacket is excellently preserved within a clear protective sleeve, presenting vivid colours and clean panels, marred only by very minor rubbing to the spine ends and a hint of edge wear, maintaining an overall superb appearance.

Catalogue Note: First edition, first printing. The book features a double-page frontispiece map sketching the author's route to captivity, followed by a touching dedication page ("To Odette with Love"). This volume serves as the third and final instalment in Captain Peter Churchill's autobiographical wartime memoirs, following Of Their Own Choice and Duel of Wits.

Unsigned first editions of this title are generally common on the open market; however, locating a copy with such a bright, unfaded binding and a well-preserved dust jacket is increasingly difficult. The book is free of any previous ownership inscriptions or markings, presenting a highly collectable, clean copy of this essential Special Operations Executive (SOE) narrative.

In The Spirit in the Cage, Captain Peter Churchill, D.S.O., delivers the gripping final chapter of his wartime memoirs. Captured by the Gestapo in 1943 alongside his courier and future wife, Odette Sansom, Churchill recounts his harrowing experiences as a prisoner of war across various concentration camps, including Fresnes, Flossenbürg, and Dachau. With raw honesty, he details the psychological toll of solitary confinement, the ingenious methods used to communicate with fellow captives, and the unwavering resilience of the human spirit. This poignant narrative stands as a testament to the courage and hope of those who endured the darkest hours of Nazi captivity.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: Peter Churchill

Book Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Military

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 251

Book Publication Year: 1954

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Liverpool, 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.