Ronald Cartland
Barbara Cartland (1902-2000)
Category
Books
Date
1942
Materials
Place of origin
England
Collection
Chartwell, Kent
NT 3134799
Summary
A biography of her brother by Barbara Cartland Book gifted by: Barbara Cartland Book Inscription Signature: Barbara Cartland Book Inscription: To Mr Churchill in deep gratitude and in irrepressible admiration for one of the greatest men of our history from the author Date of Inscription: April 1942
Full description
**The Inscribed Books Collection, to which this book belongs, consists of gift inscriptions on third party books given to Sir Winston Churchill from friends, family, and well-wishers, unsolicited presentation copies of books by strangers, as well as presentation copies from authors who were genuine friends and colleagues. After his death in January 1965, Churchill personally bequeathed the collection via his Will as a testament to his national and international achievements. For Churchill, the years that immediately preceded the outbreak of the Second World War were defined by political frustration. The British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain's favoured policy of appeasement, making concessions to Hitler, had garnered a lot of support from many of the most important British and French politicians. Much of the British press and many British people also supported Chamberlain’s approach. In contrast, Churchill was a prominent critic of appeasement; as a result, he found himself in an isolated position in government. With hindsight it seems puzzling he wasn’t listened to, but in reality Churchill relied on a minority support of fellow MPs such as the British Conservative Party Politician Ronald Cartland (3 January 1907 - 30 May 1940), who was a strong supporter of his in parliament between 1935 and 1940. 'Ronald Cartland' is a biography on the life of Cartland who was killed in action during the British Expeditionary Forces retreat to Dunkirk on 30th April 1940. Published by Collins in 1942,Churchill wrote of him in the preface to the book: "At a time our political life had become feckless and dull he spoke fearlessly for Britain" The author was Cartland's sister Dame Mary Barabara Cartland (9 July 1901 - 21 May 2000) who was a popular British romantic novelist and step-grandmother to the late Diana, Princess of Wales. After publishing her first novel in 1923, Cartland went on to produce over 600 best-selling books throughout her life. In 1983 she earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records for writing 26 books in one year. She was made a Dame of the British Empire (DBE) in 1991.
Bibliographic description
264 p., plates : ports. ; 22cm. Provenance: Inscribed by the author: "To Mr Churchill in deep gratitude and in irrepressible admiration for one of the greatest men of our history from the author Barbara Cartland April 1942". Binding: publisher's red cloth.
Provenance
The book was gifted to Churchill by Barbara Cartland herself; the two were occassional lunch partners. She inscribed the book with her signature in addition to a message, dated April 1942, addressed to Churchill that reads: "To Mr Churchill in deep gratitude and in irrepressible admiration for one of the greatest men of our history from the author" In April 1942, Churchill was Prime Minister of the wartime Coalition Government having to nullify the increasing Japanese offensives in the Far East as well as the heavy bombing of Malta that was taking place.
Makers and roles
Barbara Cartland (1902-2000) Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (Woodstock 1874 - London 1965)