Penguin First Editions :: Early First Edition Penguin Books

This was an ambitious project attempting to bring the words of political leaders spoken in Parliament to the people. H1 From Chamberlain to Churchill appeared in August 1940. The final volume, H6, was issued in September 1942.

Penguin experimented with trying to bring current politics to the people. The 'official' Parliamentary record Hansard only sold a few hundred copies. Allen Lane wanted to bring these important war-time debates into popular readership. Unfortunately, this special series of books did not stimulate the public and not many were sold. They are thus rather scarce thses days.
The cover design is similar to that of Penguin Specials and in the more familiar colours of the Pelican series - of blue and white.

Information and cover photographs of the PENGUIN HANSARD Series:

Number: H1	Title: 1: FROM CHAMBERLAIN TO CHURCHILL Period: Autumn 1939 to Spring 1940 sub-title: The Penguin Hansard - being a digest of the House of Commons Official Report of Parliamentary Debates Date Published: 5 August 1940 Pages: 304pp. Printer: Wyman and Sons Ltd This volume includes: The House of Commons Goes to War, Mr Churchill takes over.
Number: H2	Title: 2: THE NATIONAL EFFORT Period: Autumn 1939 to Summer 1940 sub-title: The Penguin Hansard - taken verbatim from the House of Commons Official Report of Parliamentary Debates Date Published: 6 December 1940 Pages: 192pp. Printer: Richard Clay and Co Ltd This volume includes: Government Action and Hesitation
Number: H3	Title: 3: BRITAIN GATHERS STRENGTH Period: Spring 1940 to Autumn 1940 sub-title: The Penguin Hansard - taken verbatim from the House of Commons Official Report of Parliamentary Debates Date Published: 11 March 1941 [printed date: February 1941] Pages: 288pp. Printer: Wyman and Sons Ltd This volume includes: The Churchill Government, The Miracle of Dunkirk, The Darkest Hour, and Blitzkrieg
Number: H4	Title: 4: THE SECOND WINTER sub-title: The Penguin Hansard - taken verbatim from the House of Commons Official Report of Parliamentary Debates Date Published: 26 January 1942 Pages: 288pp. Printer: R. and R. Clark Ltd This volume includes: Democratic Criticism, Information and Propaganda, and Production and Supply
Number: H5	Title: 5: THE DEEPENING STRUGGLE: Workshop and Battlefield (Spring 1941) sub-title: The Penguin Hansard - taken verbatim from the House of Commons Official Report of Parliamentary Debates Date Published: 23 April 1942 [printed date: March 1942] Pages: 320pp. Printer: Wyman and Sons Ltd This volume includes: Part 1: Review of the War, and Part 2 The Home Situation
Number: H6	Title: 6: THE WAR MOVES EAST (Summer and Autumn 1941) sub-title: The Penguin Hansard - taken verbatim from the House of Commons Official Report of Parliamentary Debates Date Published: 21 September 1942 Pages: 288pp. Printer: Wyman and Sons Ltd This volume includes: Part 1: Review of the War, and Part 2 The Home Situation

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