When I Awake: Thoughts on the Keeping of the Morning Watch — Jack C. Winslow
St. Hugh’s Press, London | Early Oxford Group Literature
When I Awake by Jack C. Winslow is a short spiritual work devoted to the practice of the “Morning Watch” or “quiet time”—daily prayer, meditation, surrender, and listening for guidance.
Winslow was closely associated with the Oxford Group and wrote extensively about its spiritual principles. In his introduction, he specifically acknowledges the influence of the Oxford Group, explaining that through it he learned much about what he calls “the prayer of attention” and “waiting upon God with confident expectation for definite and concrete guidance.”
That connection makes When I Awake particularly interesting within the history surrounding Alcoholics Anonymous. Quiet time, prayer, meditation, surrender, and seeking guidance were important Oxford Group practices encountered by a number of A.A.’s earliest members and form part of the spiritual background from which early A.A. developed.
The book begins with “The Morning Watch” and continues through subjects including entering into stillness, praise and thanksgiving, daily surrender, intercession, the prayer of attention, waiting for orders, meditation, and contemplation.
This edition was published in London by St. Hugh’s Press Ltd. The original work dates to 1938, with Winslow’s introduction also dated 1938. No publication date is printed in this particular edition, so we have not assigned it a specific year.
Book Details
Title: When I Awake: Thoughts on the Keeping of the Morning Watch
Author: Jack C. Winslow
Publisher: St. Hugh’s Press Ltd., London
Printing: Edinburgh Press Ltd., London
Format: Softcover with integral flaps
Original Publication: 1938
Price printed inside cover: 2/6 net
Condition
The book is in Very Good condition, particularly for an early softcover edition. The orange paper covers retain their turquoise lettering and illustrated sunrise design. There is light general handling and edge wear, along with scattered rubbing/marks to the front cover.
The interior is clean and well preserved with only light age toning. A small pencil notation is present at the upper corner of the title page. Binding remains intact.
Please review all photos carefully for condition details.
Historical Significance
For collectors of Oxford Group and early A.A. influence material, When I Awake provides a particularly direct look at the practice of quiet time from an Oxford Group writer. Winslow’s discussions of daily surrender, meditation, listening for God’s guidance, and the Morning Watch offer useful historical context for spiritual practices that would become familiar within early Alcoholics Anonymous.
