20th Century Classics

Hornblower and the Hotspur – C.S. Forester – First Edition 1962

First edition published by Michael Joseph, London in 1962. Octavo, 266 pages, blue cloth covered boards, very good dust jacket, top page edges quite aged.

The tenth volume in the Hornblower series and we make it third in chronological order. The last finished Hornblower novel “Crisis” being incomplete at Forester’s death.

Set in 1803 with war with France imminent Hornblower is promoted to Commander and given the Sloop HMS Hotspur. Sent off to enforce the blockade at Brest … does his usual super job not without difficulty and danger. Corwallis considers him for promotion to Post-Captain … a position achieved when he executes his plan to deliver false documents to the French … it all had a bearing on “Trafalgar”.

Hornblower’s career develops with bravery and cunning

$45.00

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The Night-mare – C.S. Forester – First edition 1954

First edition published by Michael Joseph, London in 1954. Octavo, 240 pages. Some wear to dust jacket an light edge spotting, otherwise a very good copy of this special WWII collection.

Forester wrote a number of “non-fiction” accounts based of WWII events. Here we have ten short stories based on true accounts recorded in the details of the Nuremberg and Belsen trials.

His introduction provides important perspective … for sure it was his personal wish that man should truly learn from the past. Well his writing is as always very readable.

Forester educates – a different book about the Second World War.

$45.00

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Killer in the Rain – Raymond Chandler – First UK Edition 1964

First edition of this collection of short stories by Chandler published by Hamish Hamilton, London in 1964. Octavo, 332 pages, very good dust jacket designed by “Andrew” page edges foxed but still a great copy of a sought after Chandler collection … rare in such a good dust jacket.

Published posthumously, Chandler died in 1959. Most had appeared early on in the magazine “Mask” in the USA … some elements of the stories were cannibalised into his later novels. See if you can spot them.

The eight stories of reasonably equal length include the title “Killer in the Rain’ and Bay City Blues; No Crime in the Mountains; Mandarin’s Jade; The Lady in the Lake; Try the Girl; The Curtain and The Man Who Liked Dogs … well who doesn’t.

Introduced by Chandler expert of the day, Prof Philip Durham of the University of California where numerous Chandler ephemera are housed.

Chandler – eight thrilling stories – first edition.

$65.00

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A Gun for Sale – Graham Green – Special Edition 1944

One for the collector or Greene lover. Scarce soft cover published by the Melbourne Truth in 1944. 128 pages. Apart from the insect damage along the leading edge of the cover, which goes to the title page, the book is in very good condition given its generally fragile nature.

Greene enjoys melodrama and there is plenty in “A Gun for Sale” – a strange one that makes it all that more enjoyable.

Greene with Guns and a special scarce issue Melbourne Truth

$35.00

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Doctor Fischer of Geneva or The Bomb Party – Graham Greene – First Edition 1980

A first edition published by The Bodley Head 1980. Octavo, 140 pages, complete dust jacket, a very good copy.

Seriously hilarious – a shorter tale [Greene would call it an “Entertainment”] about greedy people – Dr Fischer was a naughty man – Greene sees it all!

The unusual double “choice” title makes sense once read.

Greene- Bomb’s Going off in Geneva

$30.00

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SO (Ten Romances) – John Crombie and The Kickshaws Private Press – Limited to 175 copies – Unusual Permutational Book.

A first and only limited edition by the talented writer and book designer John Crombie. Published by his Kickshaws Press in Paris in 1988.

This is a unique example of a what can be referred to as a permutational book. The book is bound on the left hand edge but the text runs like a maze left to right continuously around the book until each of ten romances is complete. At the end of each section the reader is presented with options on new lines as to how to proceed and must make a choice. There are also vertical groups of connecting words that rhyme or free-associate with the ones above and below. The text is worthy, funny and at times a little naughty. Once you have completed the ”maze” the stories can be read in a different order [we challenge you to remember which way you went the first time] giving them a whole new meaning.

Unpaginated, 20cm by 25cm, the book narrative is printed and bound separately from the fuchsia three-fold heavy paper wrap around, the latter containing an introduction that describes in more words than ours the recommended method of reading

A really super item … challenging, enlightening and entertaining. Would make a special gift.

Crombie’s “SO” a most unusual book from the Paris Kickshaws Press.

$120.00

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Hornblower and the Hotspur – C.S. Forester – First Edition 1962

The Night-mare – C.S. Forester – First edition 1954

Killer in the Rain – Raymond Chandler – First UK Edition 1964

A Gun for Sale – Graham Green – Special Edition 1944

Doctor Fischer of Geneva or The Bomb Party – Graham Greene – First Edition 1980

SO (Ten Romances) – John Crombie and The Kickshaws Private Press – Limited to 175 copies – Unusual Permutational Book.

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