Berkeley

1986 · Best.-Nr. 159410 — London: Pedigree Books 1986. Third edition. Presentation copy from the author to British prime minister John Major inscribed on the title page "For John Major with every good wish from Humphry". John Major was presented the book while prime minister at an event and subsequently gave it to a member of the Number 10 Downing Street staff from whom it has been directly acquired. Berkeley 1926-1994 was Conservative MP for Lancaster from 1959 to 1966 afterwards standing for the Labour Party leaving for the SDP and then returning to Labour. He is noted for his early support for gay rights introducing a bill to legalize homosexual male relations in 1966 which failed only due to the dissolution of parliament. Berkeley was sent down from Oxford for impersonating "H. Rochester Sneath" the fictional headmaster of a public school and sending hoax letters to public figures. Rab Butler who knew Berkeley arranged for him a job at Conservative Central Office during this time and advised him to keep the hoax letters and their replies safely for publication a quarter century later. The "Rochester Sneath letters" were duly published in 1974 with this the third edition following the second in 1980. Octavo. Original blue cloth spine lettered in gilt. With dust jacket. Trivial bumping at extremities of book and jacket near-fine. hardcover