The Vanished Pomps of Yesterday; The Days Before Yesterday (Two Volumes)

Two volumes.  Reprints.  320pp; 320pp.  Both volumes bound in matching grey cloth covered boards with black motif on upper panel and black lettering to spine.  12mos.  Cloth is a little worn, gently rounded at corners and spine ends.  Previous owner's name, dated 1938, inked on the front free endpaper of each volume.  A little toning to text block edges and faintly so on endpapers, else internally neat, clean and tight.  Both volumes in their original matching dust wrappers, worn and heavily rubbed at edges and around spines, with some chipping and scuffing and a couple of flat creases.  The DJ on Vanished Pomps of Yesterday has some loss at at the base of the spine. Lord Frederick Hamilton was an aristocratic politician, diplomat and author.   These two volumes contain his memoirs of his time as a diplomatic, capturing the splendour and pomp of the already fading courts of Eastern Europe, particularly focusing on the social changes following the first world war and keen observations of diplomatic encounters, introducing various notable figures.  Eminently enjoyable, perhaps mostly for this keen wit, rich imagery and myriad anecdotes.