History of the Second World War: the War Against Japan.

London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office,, 1957-69. From the library of the Viscounts Slim First editions, first impressions, with the bookplate of Field Marshal the Viscount Slim and the ownership signature of the 2nd Viscount in various volumes. This set, part of the British official history of the war, includes extensive discussion of Slim's wartime leadership in volumes II-V. Volume IV, in which the 14th Army plays the starring role, is signed on the front free endpaper by Stanley Kirby and the volume's three other contributors. As one of his biographers notes, "Few have surpassed William Joseph Slim in that gift which Liddell Hart attributed to Marlborough - 'the power of commanding affection while communicating energy'. His military distinction was founded on humanity" (Lewin, p. 1). In 1942, shortly before the British retreat from Burma, Slim (1891-1970) was redeployed from the Middle East to the Pacific theatre. In 1943, following the formation of South-East Asia Command under Mountbatten, he began an extensive effort to strengthen the 14th Army, Britain's main battle formation in the region. Victories over Japan at Arakan and Imphal demonstrated his ability to co-ordinate "the most complex, geographically sprawling battle managed by any British army commander in either world war" (ODNB). This middle phase of the war set the stage for the 14th Army's triumphant reconquest of Burma - "one of the most brilliant campaigns conducted by a British general in the modern era" (ibid.). In 1946, he was promoted to field marshal and served as Governor-General of Australia from 1953 to 1960. The bookplate of Field Marshal Slim is found in the first three volumes and has sometime been excised from the fourth. The signature of the 2nd Viscount (1927-2019) is found in volumes II-V. In volume I, a label on the front free endpaper recto reads: "Presented to Field-Marshal the Viscount Slim, K.G., on the occasion of his visit as Guest of Honour to Brooklands County Technical College Prize Giving. 15th November 1963." 5 vols, octavo. Half-tone frontispieces, similar plates and colour folding maps throughout, including 3 folding maps in end pockets of vols II, III, and V. Original green cloth, spines lettered in gilt on black ground. Light rubbing to cloth, vol. I with a little cockling to half-title and frontispiece, text generally fresh. A near-fine set. Ronald Lewin, Slim: the Standardbearer. A Biography of Field-Marshal the Viscount Slim, 1999.