One Thing I Know — A. J. Russell | (1933) First Printing
Offered here is a first printing of One Thing I Know by A. J. Russell, published in July 1933 by Hodder & Stoughton of London. This attractive copy retains its original dust jacket and represents an important early publication documenting the Oxford Group, the spiritual movement founded by Frank Buchman that would become closely connected with the origins of Alcoholics Anonymous.
A. J. Russell was one of the Oxford Group’s best-known authors, having achieved considerable international success with his 1932 book For Sinners Only. Published the following year, One Thing I Know offers a more personal account of Russell’s experiences, spiritual development, and involvement with the movement.
Unlike books written decades later about the Oxford Group, Russell’s account was published during the movement’s early international expansion, providing readers with a contemporary perspective on its people, beliefs, and practices.
Frank Buchman and the Oxford Group
One of the most historically interesting aspects of One Thing I Know is Russell’s firsthand discussion of the Oxford Group and its founder, Frank Buchman.
Throughout the book, Russell recounts experiences involving Buchman and other Oxford Group participants, exploring the movement’s emphasis on personal spiritual transformation, confession, witnessing, restitution, and seeking divine guidance.
Russell writes candidly about his own spiritual development, including his initial reluctance to share his experiences publicly. His recollections of Buchman and fellow Oxford Group members provide insight into the personalities and practices that shaped the movement during the early 1930s.
The book also examines questions surrounding spiritual guidance, including contemporary discussions about the interpretation of divine direction and the importance of personal judgment.
These accounts make One Thing I Know particularly valuable as a firsthand historical resource. Rather than simply explaining the Oxford Group’s principles, Russell provides a personal account of how those principles were practiced and understood by participants in the movement.
Historical Connection to Alcoholics Anonymous
Published in 1933, One Thing I Know appeared just two years before the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous.
During this period, the Oxford Group was attracting international attention through its meetings, personal testimonies, and published literature. Its principles and practices would subsequently influence several individuals involved in the beginnings of A.A., including Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith.
The Oxford Group’s emphasis on personal inventory, confession, restitution, spiritual guidance, and helping others became part of the spiritual environment from which early Alcoholics Anonymous developed.
Although A.A. eventually established its own distinct identity and program, the Oxford Group remains an important influence in the Fellowship’s earliest history.
Russell’s writings offer collectors and researchers an opportunity to examine these ideas as they were being discussed and practiced in the years immediately preceding A.A.’s founding.
Publication History and Collector Significance
One Thing I Know followed the success of Russell’s For Sinners Only, one of the most widely circulated books associated with the Oxford Group during the early 1930s.
First published in July 1933, One Thing I Know received additional printings within months of its initial release, reflecting early demand for Russell’s writing.
The book was also recognized in contemporary discussions of the Oxford Group and subsequently referenced in historical scholarship concerning the movement.
For collectors of Oxford Group and early Alcoholics Anonymous literature, the 1933 first printing is particularly appealing. It represents an original publication from the years when the Oxford Group was becoming internationally known, rather than a later historical interpretation.
The presence of the original dust jacket adds to the desirability of this copy, particularly for collectors seeking well-preserved examples of early Oxford Group publications.
Book Details
Title: One Thing I Know
Author: A. J. Russell
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton, London
Edition: First Edition
Printing: First Printing — July 1933
Year: 1933
Binding: Hardcover, orange cloth
Dust Jacket: Original Dust Jacket
Condition
Book: Beautifully preserved hardcover with bright orange cloth boards showing little noticeable exterior wear. The binding is tight, and the interior pages appear clean and well maintained. There are markings on the first blank page.
Dust Jacket: Original dust jacket in good condition, showing age-related edge wear.
Please review the accompanying photographs for additional details regarding condition.
Collector’s Notes
One Thing I Know is a significant early Oxford Group publication, offering firsthand observations of Frank Buchman, the movement’s spiritual practices, and the religious environment that helped shape the beginnings of Alcoholics Anonymous.
This attractive 1933 first printing, preserved with its original dust jacket, would make an excellent addition to a collection of Oxford Group literature, early recovery history, or publications documenting the spiritual influences on Alcoholics Anonymous.
