OURSELVES AND GERMANY [1938]

OURSELVES AND GERMANY rare1938 British-Nazi friendship book by the Marquess of Londonderry, K.G. 

This is the FIRST Penguin EDITION hardcover published in Harmondsworth, England in October, 1938. It was preceded by four printings of small press runs by Robert Hale, Ltd. in April and June.  When Hale couldn't keep up with public demand, the task was given to a more efficient Penguin.  This hardcover edition adds a second preface to Hale's text,

and has a 19-page appendix written in May, 1938 which was contained only in Hale's fourth impression. This hardcover edition was followed by two Penguin paperback press runs -- then the advent of World War Two caused the book to be officially suppressed. Most copies have disappeared. 183 pp, 7 1/4" x 4 1/2". Very rare book.  The Marquess wrote:  "The strained relationship which may be said to exist between Great Britain and Germany is something which we should seek to remove, and it will only be by a sympathetic understanding that this object can be achieved.  There are many points of

similarity between our two countries, and there is a racial connection which in itself establishes a primary friendly feeling between us....." The Marquess spoke low German, and as an air force man he had visited the experiments on the Frisian Islands in the early 1930s.  When he says in this book that his "first" visit to Germany began on January 29, 1936, he probably means first in a semi-official capacity.  He was present at the 1935 dinner referred to in South of Tuk Issue #107 and mentions in this book that he could understand and communicate with those Nazis who spoke the northern dialects.  He understood enough German to personally take part in the editing of the German edition of this book, published in July, 1938 by Essener Verlaganstalt.  The Marquess was accused of being a Nazi sympathizer.  He wasn't -- and does make that clear in this book -- although he also makes it clear that he is a fool who doesn't understand vital first principles. Let me quote Star Trek’s Mr. Spock: "Peace", said Spock. "An amicable goal.  You cannot have peace without strength as long as there exist people who choose to impose their lives upon yours." [from Perry's Planet.  Spock was a libertarian-objectivist.]  This valuable little book is being released from the von Harten

Archives to finance some of our other projects; we still retain a copy of the German-language version for reference.  Binding is tight; one very minor tear on p.65; no markings, inscriptions or seller's marks; some yellowing of all pages; some grime on cover.