Iles (Frances, pseud. Anthony Berkeley Cox) Malice Aforethought.
£575
The story of a commonplace crime
London, Mundanus / Gollancz, 1931.
First edition (preceding the hardback). 8vo. Original printed wrappers. Housed in morocco-backed cloth slip-case and chemise.
An uncommon work by Anthony Berkeley Cox, aka Anthony Berkeley. The work is significant in the genre of crime fiction as one of the earliest and finest examples of the inverted detective story, a technique which would go on to inspire numerous other authors, as well as film-makers – notably Hitchcock and his 1941 film Suspicion (actually based on another, similar Iles title).
In stock
Usual toning to text block; some creasing and wear to spine, a little rubbed at edges; slip-case with scuffing to one spine label.
Provenance: From the library of detective/mystery fiction formed by Florence and Edward Kaye (their morocco bookplate to inside of chemise).
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