The Moral Basis of Politics.

Mitchison (Naomi)

The Moral Basis of Politics.

Description: FIRST EDITION, some light spotting largely restricted to borders, some underlining and marginal marking in pencil on pp. 295-7 (likely those of Rudolph Messel, see below), pp. xxi, 376, crown 8vo, original red cloth, backstrip lettered in gilt, gentle knock to one corner, the edges a little toned and faintly spotted, bookplate of Rudolph Messel to front pastedown (see below), dustjacket with some very light soiling, a little chipped and nicked at extremities, very good

Publication Details: Constable, 1938

Notes: Inscribed by the author on the flyleaf: 'R.M with much love from N.M., "The seeming needs of my fool-driven land..."'. Noted in pencil below, possibly in the hand of the recipient, Rudolph Messel, is the derivation of this latter quotation from Yeats's 'All Things Can Tempt Me'. Messel was a contemporary and friend of Evelyn Waugh. Like Waugh, who described him in 'A Little Learning' as 'cadaverous, wayward, generous', Messel was a member of the notorious Hypocrites Club; his cousin was the stage-designer Oliver Messel. Messel's bookplate, designed by his wife Judith, creates a border for his...moreInscribed by the author on the flyleaf: 'R.M with much love from N.M., "The seeming needs of my fool-driven land..."'. Noted in pencil below, possibly in the hand of the recipient, Rudolph Messel, is the derivation of this latter quotation from Yeats's 'All Things Can Tempt Me'. Messel was a contemporary and friend of Evelyn Waugh. Like Waugh, who described him in 'A Little Learning' as 'cadaverous, wayward, generous', Messel was a member of the notorious Hypocrites Club; his cousin was the stage-designer Oliver Messel. Messel's bookplate, designed by his wife Judith, creates a border for his initials ('RPM') using items associated with his various interests: at the bottom, food and drink and, arching round the top, music, literature and cigarettes.His friendship with Mitchison was, relevant to the present work, on the basis of their shared Socialism; alongside Raymond Postgate, the two had visited Russia together in 1933, and Mitchison acted that same year in what is perhaps the first British Socialist film, 'The Road to Hell', written by Postgate and directed by Messel in 1933, under the banner of their nascent Socialist Film Council. HIDE