Lot #98: Vintage 1940 History Book -- "I Saw France Fall: Will She Rise Again?" by Rene de Chambrun. (First Edition!)

First Edition. New York: William Morrow & Company, 1940. 216 pp. "I Saw France Fall: Will She Rise Again?" is a personal wartime memoir by René de Chambrun, published in 1940. As a captain in the French infantry and a direct descendant of the Marquis de Lafayette, de Chambrun occupied a unique position as a liaison officer between the French and British forces. The book provides a rapid-fire, eyewitness account of the "Phoney War" and the subsequent lightning-fast collapse of the French defenses during the Battle of France. Written while the events were still fresh and before the full complexities of the Vichy regime were established, the narrative reflects the shock of the French military elite and the author's personal efforts to rally American support for the French cause. Original stark, text-heavy dust jacket—featuring the title in bold, urgent lettering. As a contemporary account of a pivotal historical moment, a 1940 Morrow first edition can reach 85 to 120 for collectors of WWII personal narratives. Dimensions: 20 cm Pickup category timeslot {A}