The Weary Road

John Murray. London: John Murray (1929) 8vo., without the dustwrapper; quarter cloth binding with paper covered boards, labels to the upper board and spine; pp xiii, 226; a very good copy, with a toned spine, label on spine browned with a small stain, title faded in places, light rubbing to the extremities, faint foxing to first few pages; otherwise a presentable copy. A signed UK first edition, being a family presentation copy from the author Charles Douie to his aunts. The inscription reads: "To my dear aunts, in the hope that the nephew has not proved all unworthy of their name, CLARIOR HINC HONOS, Charles Douie 6 November 1929". The latin motto means "Hence the greater honour" and is a symbol of the pursuit of honour and distinction. It is the motto of the Clan Buchanan, and this is perhaps what Douie is referring to regarding his aunts and their name. Originally published in a periodical called "Nineteenth century and after", Douie wrote an essay and was invited by the editor to add to it. It would appear later in 1928 under the heading of "Memories of 1914-1918" and then expanded upon here as "The Weary Road". Douie served on the western front then in Italy over four years of the great war. He served at the fighting line in the Somme, at Picardy and Ancre. A highly regarded memoir of the great war, it is particulary rare to find signed in the year of publication by the author. . Very Good. Hardcover. 1st Edition. 1st Printing. 1929.