Under the French Flag. A Britisher in the French Army.

London: Robert Scott. 1917

First edition. 8vo. Pp. vi, 207, [1bl], 2pp adverts for books from Robert Scott's List. Original red cloth, lettered in gilt to spine. Spotting and marking to covers and some bumping to extremities. Bookseller label of Brentano's Paris on rear pastedown. Internally very good and overall this is a nice copy of a scarce title describing Macdonald's experiences serving in the French Army during the First World War. Inscribed on the front free endpaper: "To Charles-Henry Hirsch with the author's sincere admiration". Tipped in to the front pastedown is a letter from Macdonald to Hirsch dated 4th January 1915. Written in French, it is identifiable as being to Hirsch by Macdonald's reference to Hirsch's story "Tipperary" and to his novel "Le Tigre et Coquelicot". At the time of this letter, Hirsch was regarded as an important writer and significant figure. Now almost completely forgotten, swept away by the modernists who came to prominence during and after the First World War, Hirsch seems to be most famous for picking fights (and even engaging in a duel) with the Italian Futurist Marinetti.