Peeps at Politicians

1930, first edition of Ellen Wilkinson's caricatures of colleagues and opposition

Author

Publisher

Printing Details

First edition, first printing. Hardback in dustwrapper. 19 × 12.5cm, 117pp.

A rare first edition of Labour MP Ellen Wilkinson's collection of humorous pen-portraits of parliamentary colleagues and opponents. In it she writes that Winston Churchill was "cheerfully indifferent as to whether any new [ideas] he acquires match the collection he already possesses", and described Clement Attlee as "too fastidious for intrigue, and too modest for over-ambition". Other politicians described include Oswald Mosley, Miss Jennie Lee, and Philip Sassoon. The book is illustrated with caricatures by three cartoonists of the age, Low, Matt, and Horrabin.

Condition

The book is in good condition, but with foxing to the page edges and a little tanning to the pages, but remaining in strong readable condition. The dustwrapper is grubby and with some ink spots to the rear cover but it now within a protective sleeve.