Fiction

Pharais and the Mountain Lovers – Fiona Macleod (William Sharp) – 1924 Edition

William Sharp (1855-1905) was a Scottish writer, poet and biographer. He edited poems for Walter Scott, Swinbourne and Arnold … he wrote the best biography of Rossetti who he knew well. As a writer of novels he had moderate success under his own name but under his highly secretive nom de plume Fiona Macleod was highly respected.

After his death his wife assembled the “Fiona Macleod” works and presented them here bookended with a very worthy Forward and Bibliographical Note.

Published by Heinemann in 1924, octavo, 401 pages Mountain Lovers being the longer of the two works. Bound in blue/green cloth covered boards with Celtic design to front. Strangely the boards have silver fish nibbles, whilst the rare dust jacket with matching design to front, titles to spine is in perfect condition. The result makes for a pretty attractive copy.

Pharais subtitled “A Romance of the Isles” … the Scottish Isles that is and the narrative flows in such a mysterious, glamorous manner in true Celtic fashion .. the charm and terror of one night of tragic significance. The Mountain Lovers in a similar vein in the hills of North West Scotland.

Sharp was so protective of Fiona Macleod … whenever a manuscript note was required in her hand he had it written by his sister Mary Sharp … he kept it up but a few worked it out … that in itself is a good story.

Beautiful, strong Celtic infused narrative by Fiona Macleod .. well Sharp really

$35.00

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Covent Garden Drollery: Printed at The Whitefriars Press for the Fortune Private Press 1927

A seriously special book. Octavo, vi,2,123 pages bound in quarter cloth over paper boards, in pictorial speckled paper dust jacket. Illustrated frontispiece, facsimile title from 1672 first, decorated with vignettes. A lovely reprint of the original work. Couldn’t be a better copy.

Subtitled .. A Collection of all the Choice Songs, Poems, Prologues and Epilogues, Sung and Spoken at Courts and Theaters, never printed before. Written by the refined’st Witts of the Age. And collected by A.B. With explanatory notes at the end. Edited by Montague Summers (1880-1948) author and clergyman, who wrote on the occult.

This book is numbered 342 of a limited number of 575 copies. All printed on English unbleached handmade paper … absolutely lovely paper.

Drollery from the past still amusing in the present and beautifully presented

$70.00

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The Book and The Brotherhood – Iris Murdoch – First US Edition 1987

A first US edition of Iris Murdoch’s substantial and powerful novel published by Viking, New York in 1987.

Large octavo, 607 pages, printed on heavy stock paper, Complete dust jacket, with some sunning, very clean inside. A heavy book, would require an Overseas supplement. Very good condition.

A suspense novel with a romantic element, characters develop to a depth rarely achieved. Violence, passion, hatred, a duel and even murder have their place.

Iris Murdoch at the top of her game with The Brotherhood.

$25.00

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Not Proven – Bruce Graeme – First Edition 1935 – Scarce

Very scarce first edition crime novel from 1935 published by Hutchinson, London.

Part of the Superintendent Stevens and Inspector Pierre Allain series .. and following on from his novel of earlier in 1935 … Satan’s Mistress.

Octavo, 286 pages and one page catalogue. Red cloth covered boards with black designs and titling to front and spine, a pretty good dust jacket. A very good copy of a near impossible to get first edition.

Bruce Graeme was a “nom de plume” of Graham Montague Jeffries (1900-1982).

Rare crime first edition 1935.

$50.00

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The Opium Smugglers – Ion Idriess – First edition 1948

Idriess back in Cook’s Passage and the Lizard Island. A tale written for boys and now grown up boys. Somewhat of a rarity.

A first edition published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney in 1948. Without the jacket, octavo, 273 pages, original tanned cloth covered boards with shell design to front. End paper maps, ownership signature on front ends. A pretty good copy.

The Lizard and opium

$35.00

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D.H. Lawrence and the Body Mystical – Frederick Carter – First Edition 1932

An unusual book on aspects of Lawrence’s thinking and a fine production, printed in “Private Press Style” published by Denis Archer, London.

Largish octavo format, 63 pages with extra blanks. Frontispiece of D.H. Lawrence by the author who was a skilled etcher. Printed on sumptuous Japan Vellum. Bound quarter black cloth over lightly marbled paper covered boards. Design, partly in gilt to front with titles, gilt titles to spine. A little rubbed at the corners and a slight stain to one of the rear blanks otherwise a very good copy.

Frederick Carter (1885-1967) knew D.H. Lawrence very well … Lawrence would stay with Carter at his house in Shropshire. There they would share and develop their views on humanity. It was a time in Lawrence’s life that he was concerned with his health and the English cold and damp. He craved warmer climes. One of his favourite if not most favourite places was Mexico where he saw something unusual and special in the people.

Fine and worthwhile book on D.H. Lawrence by a man who knew him well.

$80.00

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Pharais and the Mountain Lovers – Fiona Macleod (William Sharp) – 1924 Edition

Covent Garden Drollery: Printed at The Whitefriars Press for the Fortune Private Press 1927

The Book and The Brotherhood – Iris Murdoch – First US Edition 1987

Not Proven – Bruce Graeme – First Edition 1935 – Scarce

The Opium Smugglers – Ion Idriess – First edition 1948

D.H. Lawrence and the Body Mystical – Frederick Carter – First Edition 1932

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