Ordeal of Victory.

TERRAINE, John. [Chester W. Nimitz].

Item Number: 125410

Philadelphia & New York: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1963.

First edition of Terraine’s classic study of World War I and Commander-in-Chief Douglas Haig. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Association copy, inscribed by World War II Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz to his son and daughter-in-law on the front free endpaper, “To the library of CW Nimitz, Jr & Joan Nimitz – This spectacular story of British Valor in WWI. I hope this inspirational account British land war in Europe will be read by all of the CWN Jr. Family! C.W. Nimitz, Sr 20 Sept 1964.” Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz played a major role in the naval history of World War II as Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas, commanding Allied air, land, and sea forces during World War II. He defeated the Japanese navy in the Battle of Coral Sea, the Battle of Midway, and in the Solomon Islands Campaign. Very good in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Robert Hallock. Additional inscription to the half-title page, “To Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz for his fine library with all cordial friendship Cyril Clemens.” A unique association copy, inscribed by one of the great naval heroes of WWII.

"Ordeal of Victory is truly a beautiful work and a penetrating study of one of the most enigmatic characters of our time. It gives Haig credit where due, but it is also fair to history. Even the reader who has no interest in war will enjoy this one" (S. L. A. Marshall). "Analysis has triumphed over emotion," wrote Alistair Horne of the book in London's Sunday Telegraph. "A major event in the historiography of the first world war," added Michael Howard in the Sunday Times. Both as biography and as history this is a brilliant piece of work, which takes up the history of World War I where The Guns of August left off.