Great Contemporaries.

First edition of Churchill's classic work containing his biographies of George Bernard Shaw, Lawrence of Arabia, King George V, and Adolf Hitler among others. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with 21 photographic plates. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page in the year of publication, "To George Lloyd from Winston Churchill October 1937." The recipient, Lord George Lloyd was a British Conservative politician strongly associated with the "Diehard" wing of the party. From 1937 to 1941 he was chairman of the British Council, in which capacity he sought to ensure support for Britain's position in the Second World War. Lloyd was one of the first British political figures to agitate for rearmament against Germany, as early as 1930, before Churchill became Hitler's most vocal opponent. When Britain declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939, Lloyd called together with Churchill for a "Balkan league" which would form a line to block any German expansion into the Balkans. When Churchill became prime minister in May 1940, he appointed Lloyd as Secretary of State for the Colonies and in December of that year he conferred on him the additional job of Leader of the House of Lords. Near fine in the rare original dust jacket which is in very good condition. Very rare signed by Churchill and in the original dust jacket.