Description
Offered here is a rare and compelling 1935 hardcover edition of Zaharoff: The Armaments King by Robert Neumann, published in London by George Allen & Unwin. This is the first English translation of Neumann’s searing biography of Sir Basil Zaharoff-one of the most enigmatic and powerful arms dealers in modern history.
Translated from the original German by R.T. Clark, the book presents Zaharoff’s life as both a meticulously documented historical case and a gripping tale of espionage, war, and influence.
Neumann, an Austrian exile and accomplished novelist, crafts a biography that reads like a thriller, yet is grounded in rich documentary evidence. He explores Zaharoff’s secret dealings with governments, his manipulation of world events, and his ability to sell arms to multiple sides of a conflict while evading scrutiny.
This edition is especially significant for several reasons:
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Published just one year after the original German release, during the interwar period
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Authored by a noted political exile with firsthand experience of Europe’s descent into militarism
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Features detailed accounts of arms industry influence, intelligence operations, and early 20th-century diplomacy
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Still cited in studies of international arms trade and political manipulation
This copy remains in solid condition for its age, with tight binding and readable pages. There is some foxing (more so on the outer pages). A few signs of wear typical of a book nearing its centennial add character without affecting readability.
A must-have for collectors of political biography, military history, or anyone intrigued by the shadowy forces that helped shape the 20th century.
