Ian Smith, The Great Betrayal SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR

Ian Douglas Smith, The Great Betrayal: The Memoirs of Ian Douglas Smith. London: Blake, 1997.

Hardcover, dustwrapper, 418 pages, plates.

Very good condition. Signed by Smith on the title-page.

'Born on 8 April 1919 in rural Rhodesia, Ian Smith was the third child and only son of John and Agnes Smith, both later awarded MBEs for public service. A gifted all-rounder, he was educated at Chaplin High School, Gwelo, and at Rhodes University, South Africa, before joining No. 237 (Rhodesia) Squadron, RAF.

'He was critically injured in a Hurrican crash in 1943, and after recovering he rejoined his squadron to be shot down over the Po River in June 1944. He fought with the Italian partisans before escaping over the Maritime Alps to liberated France. In 1945 he flew over Germany before returning to Rhodes University to complete his degree in Commerce.

'In 1948 he acquired a farm, married Janet Watt and entered Parliament. He moved from the Liberal Party to the the United Federal Party of Sir Roy Welensky, before founding the Rhodesian Front with Winston Field to thwart British plans for Rhodesia.

'He succeeded Field as Prime Minister in April 1964. Smith took Rhodesia through the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965 and, after repeated attempts at settlement, he reached an agreement with African nationalists in 1978. His term as Prime Minister ended with the first fully democratic election of April 1979. He was a minister without portfolio in Bishop Muzorewa's Government of National Unity and remained in Parliament until Robert Mugabe had him expelled in 1986. Janet died after a short illness in late 1994, and Ian Smith continues to farm in Zimbabwe while retaining his keen interest in politics and sport.'