Eberhart (Mignon G.) The Glass Slipper

London, Collins Crime Club, 1938.

First UK edition, inscribed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. 4pp. advertisements. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.

A rare first UK edition of one of the key murder-mystery romances by Mignon Eberhart, one of the most long-lived and prolific of American mystery writers. This title, like her popular Nurse Keete stories, is set against a medical/nursing background.

The book has been inscribed by Eberhart to fellow author M.M. Kaye, the inscription reading, ‘For Mollie Hamilton (and) M.M. Kaye This was found so here it is. With many thanks again and warmest congratulations Mignon G. Eberhart.’

Mary Margaret “Molly” Kaye (1908-2004) was a prolific writer, across a range of genres, most famously perhaps known for authoring The Far Pavillions (1978), a historical novel set in India. Kaye married Godfrey Hamilton in 1945, which is presumably when the book was inscribed, passing on Eberhart’s congratulations. Both writers enjoyed and admired the other, Eberhart reviewing one of Kaye’s murder-mystery titles,
House of Shade (1959):

‘…a thoroughly engrossing novel. It has the rich and dramatic story of a romance and conflict which we have come to expect of M M Kaye, plus a diverting mystery which has a logical but very surprising climax. This should be a really double-double-plus, and indeed it is. My congratulations to the publisher, the author, and to her millions of devoted readers.’

Kaye herself acknowledged Eberhart as a favourite of her authors when growing up, as well as an influence. Of this particular title she said in an interview in 1982, ‘She wrote a charming one called The Glass Slipper, which really made me look under the bed. She’s a great girl for atmosphere.’

SKU: 82483 Category: Tags: ,