Fiction

One Arm and Other Stories (A Collection of Eleven Short Stories) – Tennessee Williams – First of Type New Directions – 1959

A first trade edition published by special publisher New Directions of New York in 1959.

Octavo, 211 pages comprising eleven short stories. Dust jacket by the super designer Alvin Lustig although not one he had put a lot of thought into!. One page had thinned through to a hole … looks like a printing flaw. Otherwise a very good copy of a scarce work.

By this time Williams was already a successful dramatist but his short stories had only ever been published in a limited private form.

The stories are – One Arm; The Malediction; The Poet; Chronicle of a Demise; Desire and the Black Masseur; Portrait of a Girl in Glass; The Important Thing; The Angel in the Alcove; The Field of Blue Children; The Night of the Iguana and The Yellow Bird. As you can see some of these short stories are inspiration for his later plays, some are about characters in them and some are completely independent works.

A broad short read introduction to Tennessee Williams. .

$40.00

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A Journey to the Interior of the Earth – Jules Verne – c1905

Jule Verne classic published by Ward Lock, London, early 20th century, likely pre-WWI. Part of the “Lilley series” – with catalogue at rear indication forty volumes available and another ten in preparation which appears circa 1905. Octavo, 256 pages.

Lovely pictorial image pasted to front board, with “framing” decoration, which is repeated on the spine. The aforesaid image is repeated as a frontispiece. Some foxing to title and page edges. Generally, given the excellent covers, still a good to better copy for its age.

Often Journey to the “Centre” here the ”Interior” but we still come out in Iceland, where else? Another slightly unusual translation which adds to the fun.

Century old Jules Verne – off into the Centre (Interior)

$50.00

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A Journey to the Interior of the Earth – Jules Verne

Jule Verne classic published by Ward Lock, London, published 1967. Octavo, 192 pages.

Our favourite, more modern edition with the super dust jacket. Illustrated internally with line drawings. Very good condition.

Often Journey to the “Centre” here the ”Interior” but we still come out in Iceland, where else?. Translates for the young in mind, the style of translation as usual, unusual and leads to a bit adult amusement.

Verne – at the interior Centre

$40.00

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The Magician – Georges Simenon – First English Edition

Published by Hamish Hamilton, London a first English edition 1974. Translated from the French by Helen Sebba.

Octavo, 188 pages all in pretty good condition.

The conjurer liked a drink in the Montmartre after his show. He overindulged and caused issues in his marriage. Their relationship continued with quiet intimacy … until ill health changed all that …

Simenon at his most poignant

$30.00

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Three Beds in Manhattan – Georges Simenon – First English Edition

Published by Hamish Hamilton London, a first English edition 1976. Translated from the French by Lawrence G. Blochman.

Octavo, 186 pages, fine dust jacket, all in super condition.

Two lonely people meet in Greenwich Village and a night filled with drink propels them into intimacy but they may be too afraid to believe a new life might have begun. Reality that is Simenon.

The sensitive side of Simenon

$30.00

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Secret Memoirs of the Duke and Dutchess of O***** (Orleans) – Madame d’Aunoy – First Edition 1708

Title continues … Intermix’d with the Amorous Intrigues and Adventures of the Most Eminent Princes of The Court of France

Made into English from the Paris Edition. Published in London, and printed by S.P.R. Burrough and J. Baker in Cornhill E. Curll without Temple Bar. E Sanger at the Post-House, and A Collins at the Black Boy on Fleetstreet, and Sold by J. Morphew near Stationers-Hall, 1708

First English edition translated from the French of the 1690’s. Small octavo, 293. Strange pagination as the printer obviously had his pages mixed up so several times out of order but text runs exactly. Rebound in full leather, in period style by Roger Perry. Four raised bands with separate red leather title label to second compartment. Blind rules to bands and board edges. A delightful item.

An expose of the amorous goings on of the Duke and Duchess of Orleans. The Duchess was Henrietta of England (1644-1670) youngest daughter of King Charles I. She fled England at the age of three with her governess for the French Court. She married King Louis XIV brother Philippe Duke of Orleans. Phillipe a reputed bisexual had been party to a series of sexual scandals prior to the marriage which was secured after the restoration of the Monarchy in England by a dowry from her brother Charles II.

An interesting piece if factually based fiction and not at all vulgar.

The author Madame d’Aulnoy was Marie Catherine Le Jumel de Barneville, Baroness d’Aulnoy (1650-1705). Lucky to have got away with it we would say.

Early expose of the amorous lives of the Duke and Duchess of Orleans.

$290.00

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One Arm and Other Stories (A Collection of Eleven Short Stories) – Tennessee Williams – First of Type New Directions – 1959

A Journey to the Interior of the Earth – Jules Verne – c1905

A Journey to the Interior of the Earth – Jules Verne

The Magician – Georges Simenon – First English Edition

Three Beds in Manhattan – Georges Simenon – First English Edition

Secret Memoirs of the Duke and Dutchess of O***** (Orleans) – Madame d’Aunoy – First Edition 1708

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