Joad Philosopher Bbc Radio Programme (6 results)

First edition Penguin Special Edition. Paperback in scarlet cloth dust wrapper, silver penguin to spine and upper panel, paper title label to spine. Tanning to page margins, spotting to end papers. Member of the P.B.F.A. WORLD WAR II (Second).

Hard back green cloth covers. 512 pp. 300 half tone illustrations, 100 maps and drawings of Kent by Richard Church. Former message to the front free end paper. In Very Good condition, no dust wrapper. Member of the P.B.F.A. RURAL VILLAGE LIFE.

Hard back binding in publisher's original sky blue cloth covers, gilt title and author lettering to the spine. 8vo. 7½'' x 5¼''. Contains 816 printed pages of text. Corners creased, sun bleaching to the upper and lower spine ends where pieces of the wrapper are missing, age darkened page edges. Near Very Good condition book in Very Good condition dust wrapper with small chips to the upper and lower spine end. Dust wrapper supplied in archive acetate film protection, this preserves and prolongs the life of the paper, it is not adhered to the book or to the dust wrapper. Member of the P.B.F.A. PHILOSOPHY.

First edition hard back binding in publisher's original black cloth covers, gilt title and author lettering to the spine. 8vo. 9'' x 6''. Contains 198 + index printed pages of text. Very Good condition book in Very Good condition dust wrapper with slight age darkening of the paper down the spine, not price clipped, 9/6. Dust wrapper supplied in archive acetate film protection. Member of the P.B.F.A. PHILOSOPHY.

Joad's rise and fall are admirably described in Jason Tomes' entry on him in the Oxford DNB. The present letter was written after the disgrace which followed his 1948 conviction for fare-dodging. Not only was Joad dropped from the programme which had made him a nationwide celebrity, 'The Brains Trust', as a result, but his well-founded hopes of a peerage were dashed. It is interesting to note from the present letter that Joad continued to work for the BBC after his disgrace. The letter is 2pp, landscape 12mo. In fair condition, aged and creased, with two punch-holes at head. The letter has one autograph emendation (the typed 'thought' replaced by 'been thinking'). It begins: 'Dear Mr. Burnett, | I enclose herewith the second pair of talks. With regard to Talk IV, I think after yesterday's experience that this may be a bit too long, and I have thought of methods of shortening it.' He explains, with reference to the text, what he proposes to do, ending 'I suggest, then, that these paragraphs could be cut out, which will give me a bit more time to read slowly.' From the papers of BBC producer Hugh Burnett, best-remembered for creating the television programme 'Face To Face', in which prominent men were interviewed by John Freeman.

A poignant letter, written during Joad's final illness (he died on 9 April 1953). Joad's entry in the Oxford DNB ends with this assessment: 'Cyril Joad was an outstanding educator, a tireless proponent of 'progressive' causes, and one of the best-known broadcasters of the 1940s.' The recipient Vere Henry Collins (1872-1966), was an author and grammatical stickler, and the letter concerns his 1952 book 'The Choice of Words'. 2pp, 4to. Aged and discoloured, and cropped at the head with loss of a line of text. Folded once for postage. Date given in ink at head, presumably by Collins. Written in pencil in a barely-legible hand. Signed 'Your old friend / Cyril Joad' and beginning: 'Vere, / You've written a lovely book. I'm ill in bed - have been for a very long time; prostate! - and have therefore read it with continuity and attention as it is "sweet" in the Victorian good sense of the word - the sense in which there aren't any 'sweet' girls now.' The concluding half of the letter is difficult to decipher. Postscript: 'PS For the next impression should not "Sydney" on p 154 be Melbourne? / PS (2) Why not continue in the same vein up to our time / Come and see me'.