20th Century Classics

The Small Bachelor – P.G. Wodehouse – New Edition 1970 – Fine Copy

This is an old one, first published in 1927. This is the first printing of a new issue by Barrie & Jenkins, London in 1970. Octavo, 204 pages, a very good copy in a complete dust jacket

Complex Wodehouse carry-on. George Finch artist who desires New York socialite Molly Wellington, cannot paint .. a hopeless artists. Her mother prefers the advances of Lord Hunstanton. Many characters contribute to George’s success or lack of … including a poetic policeman, an ex-convict valet, a fortune teller, Fanny the pickpocket etc.

Read carefully or your laughing will cause injury!

$40.00

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Period of Adjustment – Tennessee Williams – First UK Edition 1960.

A first UK edition published by Secker and Warburg, London in 1960.

Subtitled … High Point over a Cavern. Described as a “Serious Comedy” … and it is … there is a strong message and quite a few laughs.

Octavo, 95 pages all in super condition.

Set on Christmas Eve it’s a tale about two couples who have been married a few years and are facing the tensions that can arise …

Made into a Hollywood Movie in 1962 for which star Jane Fonda was nominated for a Golden Globe.

A good Christmas Eve read … it will not be on the telly … it’s not reality

$35.00

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Garden District – Two Plays .. Something Unspoken and Suddenly Last Summer – Tennessee Williams – First Edition 1959

A first UK edition published by Secker and Warburg, London in 1959.

Octavo, 72 pages, very good condition.

Two plays … a short one Something Unspoken a type often referred to as a curtain-raiser; and the longer Suddenly Last Summer.

Both had just been performed in England at the London Arts Theatre to much acclaim

Entertaining and still challenging from T.W. …

$30.00

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The Collected Poems of Sidney Keyes – With Unpublished typescript Poem “Ode to Hitler”

Published posthumously by Routledge, London a fourth impression, 1951. Small octavo, xxiv, 123 pages, original binding, very good condition. The typescript poem “Ode to Hitler’ is dated June 1941 (whilst he was till at Oxford – see below). There is a manuscript note on the endpapers “including unpublished poem”; also a note from Anthony Smith, Headmaster of Dartford Grammar School, which Keyes attended “Dear Professor Porter, I am returning three items we borrowed from you …”. This is October, 1987 and there had been a special Keyes Conference held at the school that year … it is possible that the unique poem was one of the borrowed items, and that this book was Porter’s Professor Porter is likely the Theologian who was at Oriel college, Oxford for 13 years from 1949.

The typescript poem contains an overtyped correction “Lonely” in the third last line – shown in the image. The manuscript date “June 1941” is surely in Sidney Keyes’ hand, by comparison with the facsimile of a hand written poem included in “Collected Poems”

This is a special story. Sidney Keyes (1922-1943) was raised by his maternal grandparent, his mother died shortly after his birth. He began writing poetry at a very young age, influenced by Wordsworth, Rilke and Jung. He won a scholarship to Queen’s College, Oxford. At University he wrote two books “The Cruel Solstice” and “The Iron Laurel” for which he was later awarded the Hawthornden Prize. He was very active at Oxford editing the Cherwell Magazine and forming a dramatic society. Leaving Oxford in 1942 he joined the army and sadly died in active service in Tunisia in April 1943.

All up there are 110 poems of which half relate to the War. All of his poems written during active service were lost.

“Ode to Hitler” is a seven verse poem the first six comprising seven lines, the last six. It is a serious matter, whilst being clear in meaning. We do not want to publish all here … but here are the final lines.

“You tapeworm of the mind, you will forgive
My wanderings, stung by a sudden fury;
Not even speaking for my country, only
A mouthing sharp-tongued poet for the lonely
And awkward speaking. But you will never thrive
While we, the sour and cunning, stay alive.”

A special writer and poet who gave his life too young and, a potentially important unpublished work.

ENQUIRIES WELCOME

$120.00

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The Third Man (Graham Greene – Anton Karas) – The Harry Lime Theme

Sheet Music published by Chappell & Co, London in 1950 (Catalogue number 39386). Published co-incidental with the BBC adaptation.

A classic with special appeal for a particular generation. The theme for the film noir The Third Man … written by Graham Greene directed by Carol Reed. Here adopted by the BBC for their rendition of the classic post war drama.

Four pages of music score, in 79 bars .. with the beautiful slower section and crescendo.

Whilst filming on location in Vienna, Carol, Orson Welles etc were out on the town and in a wine cellar heard Anton Karas play his zither. Reed was captivated and contracted Karas to play the soundtrack. This act of genius helped to assuage what is widely regarded as the longest speechless ending in film history … check it out, again.

Dan da dan .. dan da dan de dan ..

Get out the schnapps and tune up the zither

$25.00

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The Knightly Quest (A Novella and Twelve Short Stories) – Tennessee Williams -1968

A first UK edition of this collection published by Secker and Warburg, London in 1968. A novella and twelve short stories. Three of the short stories had appeared in “One Arm” published in 1959 – see our copy.

Octavo, 253 pages, the novella “the Knightly Quest”, a parody of espionage thrillers comprises eighty odd pages. The short stories common with the earlier edition are .. The Poet; Chronicle of a Demise and Desire and the Black Masseur.

The new short stories are … Hard Candy; Rubio y Morena; The mattress by the Tomato Patch; The Vine; The Mysteries of the Joy Rio; Mama’s Old Stucco House; Man Bring This up Road; The Kingdom of Earth and “Grand”. The first tow are variations on the same theme, with the same setting but with very different results … interesting.

His shorter stories and one a little longer

$40.00

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The Small Bachelor – P.G. Wodehouse – New Edition 1970 – Fine Copy

Period of Adjustment – Tennessee Williams – First UK Edition 1960.

Garden District – Two Plays .. Something Unspoken and Suddenly Last Summer – Tennessee Williams – First Edition 1959

The Collected Poems of Sidney Keyes – With Unpublished typescript Poem “Ode to Hitler”

The Third Man (Graham Greene – Anton Karas) – The Harry Lime Theme

The Knightly Quest (A Novella and Twelve Short Stories) – Tennessee Williams -1968

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