THE ABOLITION OF MAN, Or Reflections on Education with Special Reference to the Teaching of English in the Upper Forms of Schools.

First edition. Association copy. Publisher's original orange paper covers, printed in black. A good copy, the wrappers nicked, toned and creased, the front cover detached along the spine fold and with the ownership signature of Leonard Blake in ink to the upper right. The binding is otherwise firm with some chipping and loss to the spine ends. The contents, with Leonard Blake's name dated 'March 6th 1944' to the upper right of the title page, and a few of his pencil marks to the margins, are otherwise clean throughout.

An excellent association copy. From the library of the author's friend Leonard James Blake. Blake was the husband of Maureen Moore (later Lady Dunbar of Hempriggs), one of the most significant figures in C. S. Lewis' life, a friend and surrogate sister with whom he lived for over 20 years. Maureen and Leonard Blake were married (with Lewis' encouragement) in 1940. Both teachers, Leonard was for more than two decades, the Director of Music at Malvern College (Lewis was educated at Malvern, and it is widely recognised that his time there, in particular the gas lamps and landscape, helped inspire the Chronicles of Narnia). Leonard and Maureen had two children, Lewis was godfather to their son Richard. They maintained a close friendship for the rest of Lewis' life. Leonard passed away in 1989 and Maureen in 1997, the final passages of 'The Last Battle' were read at her funeral.