Though she endured sexual harassment and serious illness in Yugoslavia, West returned twice to collect material for Black Lamb and Grey Falcon (1941), her account of Yugoslav culture under threat of eradication by Germany' (ODNB). Her opportunity came via the newly formed British Council, which sent her as a lecturer, first to the Baltic states, and then to Yugoslavia. 'After five years of marriage West was again ready for independent travel.

In his introduction to the 2006 reissue, Geoff Dyer draws attention to West's realisation that the best travel writing in fact Reviewed at the time as a 'brilliant mosaic of Yugoslavian travel' (New York Times), and 'A masterpiece, as astonishing in its range, in the subtlety and power of its judgement, as it is brilliant in expression' (The Times), Black Lamb and Grey Falcon continues to be included in lists of the greatest travel and non-fiction works of all time. Inscribed copies are far from common, this set offering a pleasing association with a recognised woman writer.įfrench was the author of well-received biographies of Sarah Siddons, Mrs Gaskell, Ouida, and Florence Nightingale, together with a number of works of Victorian history including a study of the Great Exhibition, but was certainly better known in her day as a connoisseur of, and dealer in Old Master prints. First edition, first impression, inscribed on the half-title of volume I: 'With much gratitude to Yvonne Ffrench from Rebecca West, 1942'.

The black lamb and the grey falcon