Benoist - méchin

1968 · 16306J — London: Nelson 1968. First Edition First Printing. A remarkable association copy of two noted fascists. Signed presentation copy from British fascist Oswald Mosley to Jacques Benoist-Mechin the French fascist politician and historian. Inscribed: “To Jacques Benoist-Mechin with warm regards. O. Mosley 21/10/68.†Benoist-Mechin was a high ranking Vichy collaborator who at the end of World War II was sentenced to death by the French later commuted after pardon. He developed a close relationship with Mosley during the Mosley’s residence in France. Mosley was an important British politician of the 1930s who rose to prominence with his creation of the British Union of Fascists political party. He secretly married Diana Mitford in Berlin with Adolph Hitler as a witness. With the outbreak of World War II Mosley was arrested and imprisoned. A Germanophile Benoist-Mechin wrote a highly regarded five volume history of the German Army and was a fascinating character with many sides. He was a classical music composer who advised his friend James Joyce providing the musical transcription of "Little Harry Hughes" photographed for episode 17 of Ulysses and published an early French translation of Molly Bloom's monologue from Ulysses as well as a Marcel Proust scholar who was personally knew Proust; a reporter heading a European news bureau; an adviser to William Randolph Hearst on his art purchases for Hearst Castle in San Simeon; and an aspiring writer and accomplished translator well regarded in the Paris literary circles of 1920s. Benoist-Méchin frequented the famous Paris bookshop Shakespeare and Company and during the Second World War used his political power to secure the release of the shop's American-born owner Sylvia Beach from a spell of internment. This book is Mosley’s fascinating autobiography who knew most of the key player in pre-war Britain and presents fascinating portraits of them from his poin of view. Near fine in near fine dust jacket. Nelson unknown