In Parliament, 1939-1950: The Effect of the War on the Palace of Westminster (House of Commons Library Document, No. 20) (Signed)
First edition, first impresion. Signed by the author, Jenny Tadfield, on the title page. 60pp, profusely illustrated in black and white. Laminated, illustrated stiff card covers. 4to. Some gentle edge wear to card covers, a little rubbed in places on extreme edges. Internally neat, clean, bright and tight. A bookmark from the Parliamentary Bookshop loosely laid in.
Most who see the House of Commons chamber for the first time think that it is very old. But in fact it is a modern building, which replaced the Victorian Chamber destroyed by enemy action in May 1941. This book tells the story of the destruction and rebuilding of the Chamber, and relives in pictures the wartime and austerity years in Parliament.
Jennifer Tadfield, assistant Librarian in the House of Commons Library when she wrote this book, went on to become the first female House of Commons Librarian, serving in that role from 1993 until her retirement in 1999, after 36 years of service in the Library.