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Wesley, John & Curnock, Nehemiah (editor).
Fine bindings presented to Violet Asquith, confidante of Winston Churchill. The Journal of the Rev John Wesley, A.M. [2 volume set]
Publisher: Robert Culley, London;
Date of Publication: 1911
Stock Code: 6348
Volumes 1 & 2 of the Standard Edition. Presentation Copies including Programme from Presentation Event. Octavo, pp. xiv, 484 & viii, 536. Frontispiece portraits of John Wesley (Vol I) and Susanna Wesley (Vol II) plus numerous illustrations including facsimile letters and 3 folding maps & plans. Superb Riviere Art Nouveau binding in full green morocco with 5 raised bands, gilt titles and floral decoration to spine & gilt dentelles. Printed presentation plate to Miss Asquith to front pastedown Vol I only with printed programme loosely inserted of the “West London Mission Opening of Wesley House and the Kingsway Institute by Miss Violet Asquith Wednesday, December 6th, 1911” Morocco toned to spine and lightly rubbed to edge; a little light foxing, mainly to prelims & endpapers otherwise contents clean and crisp. A superb set. Vols I and II only (the remaining volumes were not yet published) of Wesley’s Journal, presented as a memento of the occasion to Miss Asquith upon her official opening of the new home of the West London Mission at Wesley House. The building included facilities such as a gymnasium, creche and library, and Miss Asquith delivered an eloquent speech apparently reminiscent of the style of her father. Violet Asquith (1887-1969) was the daughter of Prime Minister H H Asquith and a politician and diarist in her own right, becoming very active in the Liberal Party and standing for parliament. She opposed appeasement and became the first female President of the Liberal Party and a life peer as Baroness Asquith of Yarnbury. Violet was a lifelong friend and advocate of Winston Churchill, despite her disappointment that Churchill proposed to his wife Clementine in 1908 at a time when he was very close to Violet and expected to make a declaration to her; the news led her to go missing at the family holiday home Slains Castle and she was discovered at the foot of a cliff, perhaps following a suicide attempt or at least a cry for help. Violet married Sir Maurice Bonham Carter in 1915 and her grand-daughter is the actor Violet Bonham Carter; Churchill and Violet remained lifelong friends though he admitted he had behaved badly towards her over the engagement. A £600.00