Strand magazine Archives - Richard M. Langworth

Did Churchill Ever Admire Hitler? 1/3

30 November 2012 Comments 0 Comments

Part 1: “Government by Dictators”

The Hitler chapter in Churchill’s book Great Contemporaries, like the rest of the volume, was derived from a previous article. In this case the original was “The Truth about Hitler,” in The Strand Magazine of November 1935 (Cohen C481). Ronald Cohen notes in his Bibliography that Strand editor Reeves Shaw, who paid WSC £250 for the article, wanted Churchill to make it “as outspoken as you possibly can…absolutely frank in your judgment of [Hitler’s] methods.” It was.

Two years later, when Churchill was preparing his Hitler essay for Great Contemporaries, he characteristically submitted it to the Foreign Office, which asked that he tone it down.…

Printed Signatures and “Painting as a Pastime”

1 May 2009 Comments 5 Comments

I recently acquired Painting as a Pastime, reprinted 1965. Across from the title page is the memorable photo of Mr. Churchill at an easel. Under this photo is his signature. The signature seems authentic, however I am not an expert and am unsure. For this edition, is there a signature that has been printed under the photo? —W.R.

Yes; it’s a printed signature, present in every copy of the book. When Churchill actually signed copies, it would usually be on the first free endpaper, or occasionally on the title page.

Painting as a Pastime, Churchill’s charming essay on his chief hobby (and other hobbies—he is also big on books) was first published in The Strand magazine in 1921, reprinted in Thoughts and Adventures, and finally published as a volume in its own right in 1948.…