[CHINA] SMEDLEY, Agnes

Battle Hymn of China [w/ ALS]

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1943. First Edition. First printing. Laid-in is a 2-pp ALS, dated Dec. 26 [1944?], on Agnes Smedley's letterhead, to Lt. Eugene S. Brewer, Jr. (see note below). Octavo (21cm). Original red cloth boards, titles in gilt on spine; dustjacket; maroon top-stain; viii,528,xvi pp; illus. Folding map inserted before half-title. A Very Good copy, with expected evidence of reading and use; there is a small closed tear in the margin of the folding map, which is otherwise clean and complete. In the original dustwrapper, unclipped (priced $3.50), generally rubbed and soiled with old clear tape reinforcements at flap-folds; just VG. Ownership and bookplate of Eugene S. Brewer, Jr.; a 4¢ "Sun Yat Sen" U.S. postage stamp affixed to front free endpaper. Additionally laid-in is a folded circular printing the "Statement of Policy" of the Committee for a Democratic Policy Toward China (later the Committe for a Democratic Far East Policy). Jacket design by Jean Carlu.

The revolutionary journalist's major work, a memoir of her twelve years as a correspondent on the front lines of both the Chinese revolution and the Second Sino-Japanese War, from 1929 to 1942. Smedley (1892-1950) was a prolific left journalist and probable spy, known for her active support of Chinese and Indian revolutionary causes and for her many writings on Maoist China.

The laid-in letter, of about 250 words, is dated Dec. 26 and addressed to a young Army lieutenant from Michigan, Eugene S. Brewer. Smedley discusses the recent U.S. Presidential elections, stating that she voted for Roosevelt despite disagreeing with "many things Roosevelt has done and still does...but I was afraid of Dewey and his rotten reactionaries. Now I grow more and more afraid of Churchill and it would be a godsend if he'd fall dead or if someone would kindly bump him off..." She comments on British policy in India: "As long as Nehru remains in prison, I have no hearing for any agent of the British" – and concludes with a description of her work for China relief, "raffling off things for 2 weeks to aid cultural workers in Chung King...I'm tired tramping the streets selling chances for 10¢! So much work for so little."

Eugene S. Brewer (1914-2001) was a 1935 graduate of the University of Michigan. He won a 1938 Avery Hopwood Prize for a proletarian novel (apparently never published), "Some Brass and No Groceries." After a brief and apparently unremarkable scriptwriting career in Hollywood, Brewer returned to his home town of Owosso, Michigan, where he was for many years a county planner and surveyor. Brewer's connection to Smedley is uncertain, but likely dated from his student days at Michigan.

Price: $650.00

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