Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain 1st / 1st 1933
London: Victor Gollancz Ltd (1933). The author’s war biography, in the first issue binding of black lettering to the top of the spine and red boards. This is a very good copy. The spine is a shade or two faded and there are faint spots to the text block. There is further spotting albeit sporadically to the first few pages. Overall the pages are clean though and the binding is tight and square. Overall a very good copy that is rare in the first issue binding.
Testament of Youth has been acclaimed for its description of the impact of the war on the lives of women and the middle-class civilian population of Great Britain. The book shows how the impact extended into the post-war years. It is also considered a classic in feminist literature for its depiction of a woman’s pioneering struggle to forge an independent career in a society only grudgingly tolerant of educated women. It was adapted recently into a film by the BBC.