Beschreibung:

AUDEN, W.H. and Christopher ISHERWOOD (1904-1986). Journey to a War . London: Faber & Faber, 1939. 8 o. Color frontispiece, black-and-white photographic plates (most by Auden), folding map at end. (Light foxing to endpages.) Original black cloth (extremities bumped); pictorial dust jacket (slightest edgewear). Provenance : Stephen Spender (1909-1995), British poet (presentation inscription). FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY AUDEN TO STEPHEN SPENDER on the title: "To Stephen with love from Wystan." Isherwood was just 13 when he first encountered Auden at prep school. Ten years later, they struck up a relationship based on literary adventures, friendship and sex. The book was commissioned by Faber & Faber with the "choice of itenerary left to our own discretion" (Introduction). They chose a trip to China, neither man knowing the language or having any real knowledge of Eastern affairs. The self-imposed exile was particularly traumatic being at the outbreak of war and charges of betrayal haunted both men until their deaths. Bloomfield and Mendelson A20a. [ With: ] AUDEN, W.H. The Shield of Achilles . New York: Random House, 1955. 8 o. Original quarter cloth, black boards; printed dust jacket (some light soiling and fading). Provenance : Stephen Spender (presentation inscription). FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY AUDEN TO STEPHEN SPENDER on the front free endpaper: "To Stephen with love from Wystan March 1955." With several corrections by Auden, including the excision and addition of an entire line in "Poem VI" of the "Horae Canonicae." Bloomfield and Mendelson A35a. [ With: ] AUDEN, W.H. About the House . New York: Random House, 1965. 8 o. Original cloth-backed boards; printed dust jacket (slight browning). Provenance : Stephen Spender (presentation inscription). FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY AUDEN TO STEPHEN SPENDER on the front free endpaper: "Stephen with love from Wystan March 1966." Bloomfield and Mendelson A49a. (3)