Wine Water and Song G K Chesterton 1946 Illustrated Twentieth Edition
 
Title & Bibliographic Details
 
Wine, Water and Song
By G. K. Chesterton
Illustrated by Sillince
With an Introduction by L. A. G. Strong
Published by Methuen & Co. Ltd., 36 Essex Street, Strand, London.
Printed in Great Britain by A. P. Tayler & Co. Ltd., Holborn Hall, London E.C.1.
Twentieth Edition, 1946 (Revised Edition).
This work was first published on 6 August 1915. This copy is the Twentieth Edition, revised and illustrated, issued in 1946 following numerous earlier reprints.
 
Historical & Bibliographic Context
 
Originally published during the First World War, Wine, Water and Song gathers together many of the best-loved poems and drinking songs from Chesterton's celebrated novel The Flying Inn, together with additional verses. The collection celebrates fellowship, liberty, English tradition and good humour through Chesterton's distinctive blend of wit, paradox and lyricism.
This illustrated post-war edition is especially attractive, with expressive drawings by Sillince that complement Chesterton's exuberant verse. Introduced by the novelist and critic L. A. G. Strong, it represents one of the most appealing twentieth-century editions of this enduring collection.
Today the book remains popular with collectors of Chesterton, illustrated poetry and literary humour.
 
About the Author
 
G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) was one of Britain's most influential essayists, novelists, poets and Christian apologists. Celebrated for his wit, paradox and literary criticism, he wrote classics including The Man Who Was Thursday, the Father Brown stories and numerous essays that continue to influence readers today.
 
About the Illustrator
 
Sillince was a noted British illustrator whose energetic pen-and-ink drawings perfectly capture the humour, vitality and exuberance of Chesterton's verse. His illustrations add considerable charm to this post-war edition.
 
Binding & Exterior Description
 
Bound in the publisher's original red cloth with attractive cream borders surrounding the title on the front board and matching cream lettering to the spine.
The book retains its original illustrated dust jacket, which has been price clipped but remains complete and attractive. The jacket displays honest age-related wear including small edge tears, light creasing, several very small additional nicks and light surface marking.
The cloth binding beneath remains sound and robust with only light wear, including gentle bumping, light edge rubbing, several small marks and a slight lean to the spine developed through careful use.
Overall, this is an attractive and well-preserved example of this illustrated Methuen edition.
 
Interior Condition
 
The pages are lightly toned with age and printed on attractive quality grained paper.
As originally issued, the page edges remain roughly cut, reflecting the traditional practice of opening gatherings with a paper knife.
There is light foxing to the endpapers together with several early ownership inscriptions in pen and pencil on the front free endpaper. There are no further inscriptions within the text.
Internally the pages remain predominantly clean and uncreased, with only the occasional small mark.
The binding remains firm with all pages securely attached. There is only a very slight and partial gutter crack between pages 30 and 31 which does not affect stability.
All 60 pages are present and have been carefully checked.
 
Physical Details
 
Pages: 60
Dimensions: Approximately 19.3 × 13.1 × 0.9 cm
Weight: Approximately 140 g