H. C. Armstrong - Grey Steel: J.C. Smuts — A Study in Arrogance
Grey Steel
A Study in Arrogance
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: Grey Steel: J.C. Smuts — A Study in Arrogance
- Author: H. C. Armstrong
- Publisher: Arthur Barker Ltd, London
- Publication Date: July 1938 (Sixth Impression)
- ISBN: Not issued
- Edition Details: Early Trade Reprint (Sixth Impression)
- Binding: Original publisher's cloth-bound hardcover
Official Condition Report
- The Book: Fair to Very Good (Exterior: Fair / Interior: Very Good)
- Exterior: The cloth binding is intact but displays noticeable age-related wear. The spine shows standard sun-fading, with fraying and minor material loss at the crown and heel. The front face gilt lettering has dulled, though the spine gilt remains clear and readable.
- Interior: The text block is structurally complete. Pages are very good and clean, displaying typical age-browning across the text block and light tanning or foxing spotting on the preliminary leaves.
- The Dust Jacket: Not Included
Synopsis & Historical Context
First published in 1937, H. C. Armstrong’s Grey Steel is an infamous, uncompromising biography of General Jan Christiaan Smuts. Armstrong focuses on Smuts’ complex, rigid personality, analyzing the traits that earned him a reputation for cold arrogance among his political rivals at home, despite his celebrated status as an international statesman. This biography remains a key text for understanding the deep political divisions in early 20th-century South Africa.
Author Profile: H. C. Armstrong
Captain Harold Courtenay Armstrong (1891–1943) was a British military intelligence officer and author, famous for his psychological, critical biographies of world leaders, including Kemal Atatürk (Grey Wolf) and King Ibn Saud (Lord of Arabia).
