Description: Note Signed (very rare) by Sir Fitzroy Maclean on His Estate Stationary (Strachur House) Close Friend of Ian Fleming - presumably used Maclean for his inspiration of James Bond Dust Jacket Protected by a Brodart Cover Please see pictures for more information and detail Sir Fitzroy Hew Royle Maclean, 1st Baronet, KT, CBE (11 March 1911 – 15 June 1996) was a Scottish soldier, writer and politician. He was a Unionist Member of Parliament from 1941 to 1974 and was one of only two men who during the Second World War enlisted in the British Army as a private and rose to the rank of brigadier, the other being future fellow Conservative MP Enoch Powell. Maclean wrote several books, including Eastern Approaches, in which he recounted three extraordinary series of adventures: travelling, often incognito, in Soviet Central Asia; fighting in the Western Desert Campaign, where he specialised in commando raids behind enemy lines; and living rough with Tito and his Yugoslav Partisans. It has been widely speculated that Ian Fleming used Maclean as one of his inspirations for James Bond. When war broke out in 1939 Maclean was prevented from joining the military because of his position as a diplomat. He was 2nd Secretary in the Foreign Office. Therefore, he resigned from the Diplomatic Service "to go into politics". After tendering his resignation he immediately took a taxi to the nearest recruiting office and enlisted as a Private in the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. He was soon promoted to lance corporal and was commissioned in 1941. In that year he became the Conservative Party for Lancaster. In North Africa in 1942, he distinguished himself in the early actions of the newly formed Special Air Service (SAS), where, with Ralph A. Bagnold, he developed ways of driving vehicles over the Libyan sand "seas". Maclean was a brilliant practitioner in the T. E. Lawrence brand of fighting, and he reported directly to Winston Churchill in Cairo. (See Wikipedia for much more information).Tucked neatly into 94 boxes housed in the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library of University of Virginia Library reside the fragments of the life of a man that many people — all over the world — know more about than they might think. Postcards, documents marked “Top Secret,” notes written on Buckingham Palace stationery, drafts of novels, and hundreds of photo negatives make up the archive of one of the most fascinating Brits of the 20th century. His name is Maclean, Fitzroy Maclean. And he is widely believed to be one of the inspirations for Ian Fleming’s famous character, James Bond. Maclean was a Scottish soldier, politician, diplomat, author, and pundit who traveled extensively throughout his career, spending time in London, Paris, Moscow, Cairo, Yugoslavia, and almost everywhere in between. Quickly promoted up the ranks in all of the many positions he held, Maclean is remembered for his adventurous spirit and contributions to British allied efforts during WWII, numerous books (spy novels, biographies, and autobiographies), extensive travel reporting to the government from remote parts of Central Asia, and numerous friendships with such people as Winston Churchill, Josip Broz ‘Tito,’ Prince Charles, and the Queen Mother herself. The University of Virginia Library acquired his papers in 1998, and they have been accessible to researchers ever since. The collection, which contains correspondence, manuscripts, typescripts, newspapers, memorabilia, and many other kinds of artifacts, vividly tells the story of one man’s rise to the upper ranks of the British Foreign Service through talent, determination, and a sense of adventure. *****The book is not signed - but the note (letter) that accompanies the book is signed. The book is in very good condition. There is a couple of stains top edge and bottom edge of book. The dust jacket is in good to good plus condition. There is a small tear on top right corner of jacket. There is some staining on inside of jacket at top and bottom and outside bottom. The price on the dust jacket is intact (in pounds). The book is very tight and clean and there are no other writings, no remainder marks, not ex-library, no underlining, etc. The dust jacket is now protected by a Brodart cover. Please see pictures for more information and detail. This was truly a unique individual with an extremely interesting history and very rare signature!This item will be shipped with Signature Confirmation required. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have. I will be glad to take additional pictures. I tried to describe the book through words and pictures the best I can but if you are not 100% satisfied with the purchase, please know you can return the book for full refund. Boxed and packaged VERY carefully! Will ship within 1 business day of receiving payment. Thank you for looking!
Price: 590 USD
Location: Okatie, South Carolina
End Time: 2024-12-03T18:22:23.000Z
Shipping Cost: 6.13 USD
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Item Specifics
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Special Attributes: SIGNED NOTE BY SIR FITZROY MACLEAN, RARE SIGNATURE
