[Bound mimeographed book, with full-page photographs, inscribed by the author.] 'Ivy Gladys Tennyson by C. T. [her husband Sir Charles Tennyson]'.

4to, [i] + 74 pp. Title-page and 74 numbered pages. Each page on the recto of a leaf, with the verso blank. With two full-page photographs (full-length portrait of Ivy in her wedding gown, July 1909; and picture of the couple 'From a portrait by Anthony Devas October 1950') laid down on blank leaves. Tied with green ribbon. Clear and complete. Internally in good condition, on lightly-aged paper; binding worn and creased. Inscribed 'Jill from [Mom?] With much love  Dec. 1960'. Description, for his grandchildren, of his wife's 'remarkable personality and achievement'. Begins with description of their first meeting, at which time he finds that she is 'deeply involved in Liberal politics, being secretary of that then very important political body, The Free Trade Union'. Details her family background and previous 'suffering' during 'her short life - she was then 27 years old'. She is aided by 'the well-known Positivist and Sociological writer' Frederic Harrison, works for the Musicians Benevolent Union and is on the staff of the women's magazine 'Our Home'. After her father's death she sets out alone to the USA, 'to work amongst the miners in the wild mining villages of Minnesota'. After an unsuccessful engagement to 'an American business man' she returns to England, where, 'with many of her Liberal friends', she opposes the Boer War. She visits South Africa, to help 'alleviate the misery and suffering'. Back in England she serves as secretary to the executive committee of the Free Trade Union, this work bringing her 'into touch with most of the leading young Liberals of the day', including 'Bertrand Russell, Hilton Young (later Lord Kennet of the Dene), Francis Acland, [...] Charles Mallet, [...] C. F. G. Masterman [...] Desmond McCarthy, George Trevelyan and Tom Kettle'. She interrupts a speech by Asquith to hand him a telegram, and has to 'turn another eminent statesman out of a four-wheeled cab in which he was making improper advances to her'. (He is 'not the only politician of Cabinet rank who made love to her, and I know of three men of some eminence who would have broken up distasteful marriages for her had she been willing.') Reasons are given for her opposition to the movement for women's suffrage, in which she is joined by 'two for whom she had always a particular respect and affection - Una Birch, afterwards Una Pope Hennessy, and Gertrude Bell'. In 1916 she is appointed 'head of the whole female staff [7000 women, growing to 9000] at the Ministry of Munitions'. Her other activities in the years that follow (including the organising of three art exhibitions during the Second World War) are described, with the account ending with her death in 1958. Two appendices: 'A talk to a war savings group by I. G. T.' and 'Memorandum by I. G. T. explaining reasons for her resignation (Ministry of Munitions)'. Sir Charles Tennyson's obituary in The Times (24 June 1977) emphasizes the 'mutual devotion' he shared with his wife, who showed 'outstanding ability in several fields of good activity'. Excessively scarce: no copies at the British Library, on COPAC, or WorldCat.