Folio Archives 196: Voice From the Ranks by Sgt. Timothy Gowing 1954
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1wcarter
Voice From the Ranks, A Personal Narrative of the Crimean Campaign by a Sargeant of the Royal Fusiliers by Sgt. Timothy Gowing 1954
I find first-hand accounts of historic incidents to be fascinating, and this one is no exception.
Timothy Gowing covers his early life in one page, and we soon find him enlisting in the Royal Fusiliers at age 20. Within two months he is on a ship for Varna (in modern Bulgaria, but then part of Turkey) and on to the Crimea, where he is an active participant in every major battle, from Alma and Inkerman to the siege of Sevastopol, gaining rapid promotion along the way. At one stage he is injured, and unlike most of his comrades, survives his evacuation to Balaclava, then Malta, to recuperate and return to the front.
The Crimean campaign (1854-55) was one of the most costly in human life and misery imaginable. More died from cholera, starvation and the cold than in battle, and the inhumanity of the situation beggars belief. Despite his privations, Gowing soldiers on, ever believing in the right of Britain and her allies, the absolute commands of his officers and the loyalty of his men.
The 145 page book is hard to put down, as his tale nearly 170 years later, is a gripping one, and the horrors of existence are almost unbelievable, except that this is a direct personal experience.
The small (21.9x14.5cm.) book is edited and introduced (8 pages) by Kenneth Fenwick, and there are 32 contemporary wood engravings (most from the Illustrated London News) incorporated within the text, and a handsome frontispiece of the sergeant major (as he later became). The dark blue endpapers are emblazoned in white with military arms. Unfortunately, there are no maps in the book.
The binding is red cloth, blocked on the cover with an engraving in gilt and black. There is no slipcase, as Folio Society books at this time were enfolded in a dust-jacket, which my copy lacks. It was almost identical to the cloth binding.
. . . . 
Endpapers
Blurry image of dust-jacket taken from internet
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
I find first-hand accounts of historic incidents to be fascinating, and this one is no exception.
Timothy Gowing covers his early life in one page, and we soon find him enlisting in the Royal Fusiliers at age 20. Within two months he is on a ship for Varna (in modern Bulgaria, but then part of Turkey) and on to the Crimea, where he is an active participant in every major battle, from Alma and Inkerman to the siege of Sevastopol, gaining rapid promotion along the way. At one stage he is injured, and unlike most of his comrades, survives his evacuation to Balaclava, then Malta, to recuperate and return to the front.
The Crimean campaign (1854-55) was one of the most costly in human life and misery imaginable. More died from cholera, starvation and the cold than in battle, and the inhumanity of the situation beggars belief. Despite his privations, Gowing soldiers on, ever believing in the right of Britain and her allies, the absolute commands of his officers and the loyalty of his men.
The 145 page book is hard to put down, as his tale nearly 170 years later, is a gripping one, and the horrors of existence are almost unbelievable, except that this is a direct personal experience.
The small (21.9x14.5cm.) book is edited and introduced (8 pages) by Kenneth Fenwick, and there are 32 contemporary wood engravings (most from the Illustrated London News) incorporated within the text, and a handsome frontispiece of the sergeant major (as he later became). The dark blue endpapers are emblazoned in white with military arms. Unfortunately, there are no maps in the book.
The binding is red cloth, blocked on the cover with an engraving in gilt and black. There is no slipcase, as Folio Society books at this time were enfolded in a dust-jacket, which my copy lacks. It was almost identical to the cloth binding.
. . . . 
Endpapers
Blurry image of dust-jacket taken from internet
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
2Forthwith
Thank you so much for this posting. The detail on your photographs is remarkable indeed and much appreciated.
3mboyne
From Folio 60:
The Curwen Press used the same type for an edition issued by Heinemann in a slightly smaller format. A number of minor typographical changes were made (including the removal of the multiple rules at the head of each chapter title), and the work was printed on a smoother cream paper. Charles Ede notes in Folio 21 that ‘On publication, we found that we had miscalculated our requirements, and so the other publisher permitted us to buy back some of the sheets.’ A cancel title-leaf was printed for these copies. Thus the edition appears in two states, most easily distinguished by the presence or absence of multiple rules.
The Curwen Press used the same type for an edition issued by Heinemann in a slightly smaller format. A number of minor typographical changes were made (including the removal of the multiple rules at the head of each chapter title), and the work was printed on a smoother cream paper. Charles Ede notes in Folio 21 that ‘On publication, we found that we had miscalculated our requirements, and so the other publisher permitted us to buy back some of the sheets.’ A cancel title-leaf was printed for these copies. Thus the edition appears in two states, most easily distinguished by the presence or absence of multiple rules.
4wcarter
>3 mboyne:
So my copy is the second state! Very interesting.
So my copy is the second state! Very interesting.
5affle
>4 wcarter:
I think yours is the first state, Warwick. The FS sold extra printing to Heinemann, distinguished by removal of the rules, then bought back as they had left themselves short: the second state doesn't have the rules, and your copy does.
I think yours is the first state, Warwick. The FS sold extra printing to Heinemann, distinguished by removal of the rules, then bought back as they had left themselves short: the second state doesn't have the rules, and your copy does.
