A Way of Life (Theodore Bikel's book)

Peter Wildeblood

Published by Weidenfeld And Nicolson, London, 1956

About this Item

First Edition ( 'First Published in 1956' ). This will be another listing of a book previously owned by the renowned actor, balladeer, and political activist, Theodore Bikel. He was living in England when he first purchased the book. His bookplate is on the front inside cover. The author, Peter Wildeblood, 'was a journalist, novelist, playwright and gay rights activist. He was one of the first men in the UK to publicly declare his homosexuality. In the summer of 1952, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu had offered Wildeblood the use of a beach hut near his country estate. Wildeblood brought with him two young RAF servicemen: his lover Edward McNally, and a fellow named John Reynolds. The foursome were joined by Montagu's cousin Michael Pitt-Rivers. At the subsequent trial, the two airmen turned Queen's Evidence, and claimed there had been dancing and "abandoned behaviour" at the gathering. As a result verdicts were returned against Montagu, Pitt-Rivers and Wildeblood. The atmosphere of the 1950s regarding homosexuality was repressive; some called this period a witch-hunt. In fact the Montagu trial followed a number of other cases in the press, including that of Soviet spies Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean, Labour MP William Feilding, writer Rupert Croft-Cooke and actor John Gielgud. It is in this context that around 1,000 men were imprisoned each year in Britain amid widespread police repression of homosexuals. During the course of the trial he admitted his homosexuality to the court and was sentenced to 18 months in prison for conspiracy to incite acts of gross indecency. The harsh verdict divided opinion and led to an inquiry resulting in the Wolfenden Report, which in 1957 recommended the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK. Wildeblood's testimony to the Wolfenden committee was influential to its recommendations. Setting up the committee was made possible due to increased public attention about homosexuality generated by this and other cases. Peter Wildeblood thus made a significant contribution to legal reform, by providing evidence and arguments for the debate in the House of Lords where the law to decriminalise homosexuality was passed in 1965. Wildeblood was the only openly gay witness to be interviewed and his book 'Against the Law' served as a passionate account of the case and the need for reform. He wrote a second book (this book) on the subject of homosexuality the following year, inspired by the strong response to Against the Law from people who had contacted him to say how grateful they were for bringing the subject into the open. A Way of Life included twelve essays describing different lives lived with homosexuality among people with whom he had come in contact. The essays served further to normalise homosexuality and reveal its then still hidden existence in all walks of life.' You can see the covers in the photos. They are quite clean. There's a bit of color fade off the top edges. The black lettering on the spine is bright. The edges and corners are in very solid shape. The spine ends look good. The book is very solidly bound from cover to cover with nicely tight pages and nicely tight covers as well. The pages are exceptionally clean. There are two speck-sized tan spots peeking over the top edge of the last page. There is some foxing on parts of the inside covers and end papers. There isn't any foxing anywhere else. There is a tiny bottom corner crease over the last nine pages. There are no turned-down corner creases or placeholder creases. No markings. No attachments other than the Bikel bookplate. And no writing of any kind. The dust jacket has a clean front and spine, some toning at the margins of the rear cover. There is a small hole just off the top edge of the front cover, light wear at the spine ends. There are no tears. The flaps are in very good condition, just a thin line of toning at their top edges. The jacket is NOT price-clipped, not clipped it all, and fitted with a protective cover. Seller Inventory # 004165

Bibliographic Details

Title: A Way of Life (Theodore Bikel's book)

Publisher: Weidenfeld And Nicolson, London

Publication Date: 1956

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good Plus

Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good Minus

Edition: 1st Edition