Summerskill, Dr. Edith – The Ignoble Art

Description

Summerskill, Dr. Edith ‘The Ignoble Art’ 1956 1st ed. 104-pages.”Is boxing really “the noble art of self-defence,” an honorable part of British sporting life, a healthy exercise for men and a character-building pastime for boys? Or is it a medically dangerous and morally dubious occupation which harms the participants physically and the spectators mentally, a ‘racket’ battened on by middlemen commercializing the sadist impulses of the public?” VG in Good+ non-price clipped mylar protected dust jacket.

The Ignoble Art is a 104-page polemical critique written by British physician, feminist, and prominent Labour Party Member of Parliament Dr. Edith Summerskill. Published as a hardcover first edition in 1956 by William Heinemann Ltd., this short but punchy work serves as a fierce, uncompromised indictment of both amateur and professional boxing, directly challenging the sport’s traditional moniker as “the noble art of self-defence”.

Book Summary & Key Contents:
Writing from her unique multi-professional viewpoint as a qualified medical doctor, a Member of Parliament, and a Privy Counsellor (P.C.), Summerskill mounts a merciless campaign advocating for a total legal ban on the sport. The book pulls no punches, providing a systematic takedown of prizefighting:
• Medical Data & Trauma: Summerskill presents empirical medical data detailing the devastating physical and psychological consequences of boxing, focusing heavily on severe brain trauma, permanent eye damage, and the tragic state of “punch-drunk” fighters.
• The Societal Sickness: Rather than just targeting the physical danger to the combatants, she argues that boxing corrupts the public. She heavily criticizes the voyeuristic subculture of the audience, stating that watching violence for entertainment fosters a primitive human instinct for brutality.
• The Boxer’s Family: Features a poignant, sociological look into the private lives of fighters, specifically documenting the emotional and economic hardships suffered by the wives and families of brain-injured athletes.
• Photographic Evidence: The written polemic is paired with several monochrome historical photographs embedded throughout the pages to starkly illustrate the real-time toll of the ring.
• Dust Jacket Impact: Dust jackets for The Ignoble Art are exceptionally prone to heavy tanning, spine darkening, and edge tears. A “Good Plus” jacket implies it shows some mild shelf wear or tiny repaired edge creases, but remains fully intact and non-price-clipped (displaying its original 10s 6d retail price). Having it safely enclosed in a mylar sleeve prevents further deterioration, cementing its value toward the higher end of the collectors’ spectrum.

Collector & First Edition Specifications:
• Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd. (London, Melbourne, Toronto)
• Publication Year: 1956
• Format: Octavo hardcover (8vo) with Dust Jacket
• Binding: Burgundy cloth boards with silver gilt lettering stamped across the spine.
• Page Count: 104 pages (preceded by 10 unnumbered introductory pages: [x], 104pp)
• Original Retail Price: 10s 6d (Ten shillings and sixpence)