20th Century Classics

The Green Bay Tree – Louis Bromfield – 1926

Published by Grosset & Dunlap, New York in 1926 having been first published two years earlier. Octavo, 341 pages, absolutely super condition in a complete and very decorative dust jacket.

No one really knows any one else. There is always a part that remains secret and hidden, concealed to the deepest part of the soul. An epic saga like novel based around the lives of Julia Shane and her two daughters in rapidly changing times.

Louis Bromfield (1896-1956) on of the great American authors of the first half of the 20thC. After returning to America as a WWI hero he took to writing and this book was the first great success among many. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1927. He was also a framer and conservationist, his Malabar Farm in Ohio is magnificent and supported by an active Foundation today. Bromfield mixed with many of the movers and shakers of the day. Bogart and Bacall were married at Malabar Farm.

$50.00

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Envoy Extraordinary – E Phillips Oppenheim – 1940

Espionage at the brink of WWII this edition published by Triangle and offshoot of Little Brown, New York in 1940.

Octavo, 307 pages, printed on “war paper’ hence the normal even toasting of the paper. Otherwise a very nice copy in a very good dust jacket indeed.

the Earl of Matresser returns to his Norfolk estate after years of hunting and spying in Africa and Asia. Europe is rumbling and the powers that be seek to restore the balance by promoting Monarchy in Germany and elsewhere. What was Rosa Von Kampf doing in England – is she the guiding figure behind the attempt on Pilot Number Seventeen’s life?

Classic Oppenheim – usual dust jacket art.

$60.00

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The Damon Runyon Omnibus [Including Guys and Dolls] – 1944

A first of kind published by Sun Dial Press, garden City, New York in 1994. High quality production despite the war years. Note this is the novel not the musical narrative …

Largish octavo, 505 pages, a few chips to what otherwise is a super dust jacket – very good copy overall.

Damon Runyon was the man behind “Guys and Dolls” and much more on Broadway here are three of his stories, first published in this form – “Money From home”, “Blue Plate Special” and the aforementioned all-time hit.

Much compared with P.G. Wodehouse … which is three stars to start ….

“When you see a sport and his cash has run short – Make a bet that he’s banking it with some doll
When a guy wears tails with front gleaming white – Who the hell do you think he’s tickling pink
… on Saturday night?”

A rarity that takes you back

$50.00

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Winesburg Ohio [A Group of Tales of Ohio Small-Town Life] – Sherwood Anderson

A classic Modern Library edition published just after WWII in 1947. Octavo, 303 pages, dust jacket with some edge wear otherwise a very good copy.

Likely Sherwood Anderson’s most admired work. Considered as one of the first books of Modernist Literature. A collection of twenty-two stories, generally described as a “short story cycle” i.e. they are all connected.

Interestingly, the place Winesburg Ohio is fictitious even though there is of course a Winesburg Ohio. The place in the stories is believed to have been based around Clyde in Ohio where Anderson was brought up …. Characters and locations are familiar.

Written in a direct unambiguous manner dealing with character over plot. Much admired and possibly directly influenced by Gertrude Stein with whom he communicated. Comparisons with Hemingway, Steinbeck etc made Voyager pick up this book and not leave it ’til done.

Winesburg Ohio so specific but could be anywhere.

SO SORRY SOLD

$30.00

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The Mardi Gras [New Orleans] Murders – Bristow and Manning – First edition 1932

First edition of this unusual murder mystery published by The Mystery League, New York and London in 1932.

Octavo, 286 pages, very good condition albeit obvious chips to rare dust jacket designed by Gene.

The Society dedicated to Dis – the Greek God of the Inferno are at the heart of murder at the New Orleans Mardi Gras. The gorgeous Cynthia Fontenay holds an elaborate costumed ball for Society members – everyone wears the satanic mask and scarlet lined black robe. Looks like number 47 had a bit of bad luck. The problem for the detectives is that there are fifty suspects.

1932 First – Mardi Gras in New Orleans – not for the faint hearted

$50.00

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The Snows of Helicon – Tomlinson – First Edition 1933

First edition published by Harper & Brothers, New York and London in 1933. Thick octavo, 267 pages, a quality production on thick laid paper by Haddon Craftsman. A very good copy in a very good dust jacket.

Triumphant work by Henry Major Tomlinson (1873-1958) author of “Gallion’s Reach” and “All Our Yesterdays” another epic novel. Described as, the English Conrad, Tomlinson was an official correspondent in WWI

The central character, Travers, is an artist who turns to architecture on a grand scale then begins to doubt the march of progress. The novel starts onboard the ship “Cambodia”, a maritime setting often found entwined in Tomlinson’s writing. Superb story, beautifully told.

Striking deco period art to jacket – great gift

$60.00

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The Green Bay Tree – Louis Bromfield – 1926

Envoy Extraordinary – E Phillips Oppenheim – 1940

The Damon Runyon Omnibus [Including Guys and Dolls] – 1944

Winesburg Ohio [A Group of Tales of Ohio Small-Town Life] – Sherwood Anderson

The Mardi Gras [New Orleans] Murders – Bristow and Manning – First edition 1932

The Snows of Helicon – Tomlinson – First Edition 1933

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