The Memoirs of Field Marshall Earl Alexander of Tunis: 1940-1945 (1962)
 
Field Marshal Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander, first Earl Alexander of Tunis (1891-1969) was born to aristocracy and as a young man showed athleticism and a passion for painting. He attended Sandhurst and was commissioned in the Irish Guards in 1911, intending to serve a few years before retiring to pursue art. The First World War redirected his life. In 1914 Alexander was sent to France, where he served until early 1919 "being in action throughout except when recovering from wounds or on courses."
 
Though he continued painting for the rest of his life, his service evolved into a military career. In the following two decades he served in Constantinople, Gibraltar, and India before being promoted to major-general in 1937. At 45, Alexander was the youngest general in the British army. At Dunkirk, he gained prominence overseeing the evacuation of nearly 120,000 British and French personnel. Alexander "left on the last motor launch, touring the beaches to see that there were no British troops remaining." (ODNB) In February 1942 Churchill sent Alexander to Burma, a mission of which Churchill wrote: "Never have I taken the responsibility for sending a general on a more forlorn hope."
 
Though Alexander was able only to withdraw the remaining army to India, Churchill recognized Alexander's ability, appointing him Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, in August 1942. In May 1943 Alexander sent the Prime Minister the message: "Sir: It is my duty to report that the Tunisian campaign is over. All enemy resistance has ceased. We are masters of the North African shores."
 
Throughout the war, Alexander "always spent more time with the forward troops than in his headquarters. His popularity was immense, and his strategic planning benefited because he knew what the war was like at the point that counted." 
 
Churchill wrote "Nothing ever disturbed or rattled him, and duty was a full satisfaction in itself, especially if it seemed perilous and hard… this was combined with so gay and easy a manner that the pleasure and honour of his friendship were prized by all those who enjoyed it, among whom I could count myself."
 
After the war, he served as Governor-General of Canada, and as Minister of Defence during Churchill s second Premiership.
 
The Inscribed book contains an unknown inscription
 
Hard Cover with Dust Jacket
209 Pages
In Fair to Good Condition