Modern Literature
London, The Women's Press, 1986.
First UK hardback edition, first impression. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
Set in the early 20th-century American South, The Color Purple follows the life of Celie, an African American woman who faces severe abuse and oppression. Through a series of letters, Celie narrates her journey from a life of hardship to one of self-discovery, empowerment, and independence, highlighting themes of racism, sexism, and the transformative power of love and friendship.
Modern Literature
London, Heinemann, 1938.
First edition, first impression, presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Original green cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 8s6d.
A collection of short stories, inscribed by the author.
Modern Literature
London, Adam & Charles Black, 1907.
First edition, first impression, second issue (without advertisements). 8vo. Original brown cloth stamped in black, gilt & white, with white feather to spine.
Set at Wrykyn, Wodehouse's recurring school environment, this early Wodehouse novel centres on young Sheen, whose inward nature and conflict with school-versus-town boys lead to tension dubbed "white-feather" cowardice. Uncommon, especially in such good condition.
Modern Literature
London, Chapman & Hall, 1932.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A romance set against the Parisian film industry.
Modern Literature
London, John Long, [1936].
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, with 4/- price sticker to spine.
A tale of desperation and romance set in Los Angeles.
Modern Literature
New York, Sun Dial Press, 1934.
First edition, first printing. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket.
In this humorous novel, Rex Pebble, his wife, and his mistress discover that their backyard swimming pool has magical properties, rejuvenating them to their youthful selves. This leads to a series of comedic and risqué adventures as they navigate their newfound youth.
Modern Literature
London, Jarrolds, [1928].
'New Edition'. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A complex and often dark tale of Yorkshire folk. In attractive Youngman Carter jacket.
Modern Literature
London, Hodder & Stoughton, [1927].
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A young English girl becomes a popular diva, earning the ire of her father and the admiration of the son of a peer.
Modern Literature
London, Hodder & Stoughton, [1931].
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Louise Jordan Miln (1864–1933) was an American actress and novelist known for her works set in Asia. She often explored themes of cross-cultural interactions and was married to George Crichton Miln, with whom she travelled extensively in the East.
Modern Literature
A Novel. Translated by Louise Maude London, Archibald Constable, 1905.'Complete and Final Revision'. 8vo. Original cloth.The story of Prince Dmitri, who seeks redemption after realising his role in the downfall of a peasant woman, exploring themes of justice, morality and spiritual awakening.
Modern Literature
a novel
London, Gollancz, 1975.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original purple boards. Dust-jacket, priced £3.50.
Rushdie's debut novel, following Flapping Eagle, a young Native American who gains immortality and embarks on a journey through a surreal world in search of meaning and identity.
Modern Literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1938.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 8s6d.
Set in the English Midlands, the novel follows Bruno Shadbolt, who rises from poverty to wealth and influence, centered around the grand estate of Spella Ho.
Modern Literature
A Romance of Married Life
London, Hutchinson, 1922.
23rd edition. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket.
This novel follows Peter Jackson, a successful cigar merchant, and his wife, Mary, as they navigate the challenges of marriage and business during World War I.
Modern Literature
[London], Pharos Editions, 1932.
First edition, trade issue. 8vo. Original yellow cloth lettered in black to spine. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A collection of short stories by The Darling Buds of May author, including 'The Black Boxer,' which portrays an aging boxer and the social world of carnival workers.
Modern Literature
London, Hutchinson, [1927].
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Gilbert Frankau (1884–1952) was a British novelist and poet, known for his war poetry and novels reflecting his experiences in World War I.
Modern Literature
London, Michael Joseph, 1957.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original reddish brown cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 15s.
The first UK edition of American author Baldwin's second novel, following his famous semi-autobiographical work Go Tell it on the Mountain. The novel is viewed as an important work on sexuality, focusing on an American man in 1950s Paris navigating a tense love triangle and grappling with his sexual identity, with things made yet more complicated by a murder and an execution. The work was ranked number 2 on a list of the best 100 gay and lesbian novels compiled by The Publishing Triangle in 1999.
Modern Literature
London, The Bodley Head, 1925.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original sage cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A Western adventure novel following the exploits of Bullwhack Joe, capturing the spirit of the American frontier.
Modern Literature
London, Cecil Palmer, 1931.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original green cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
"Entertaining and gripping to a degree the story contains most vivid and faithful descriptions of scenes and trials in the Criminal and Divorce Courts of Law in England." (jacket blurb)
Modern Literature
London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1936.
First edition, first impression. Signed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Nautical adventure with a South East Asian vibe. Uncommon in the jacket, let alone inscribed.
Modern Literature
London, Thomas Nelson, 1928.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original blue cloth lettered in gilt. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A nautical adventure featuring Captain Hawks, his mate Grummet, and their cook Cert'nly Wilfred, likely involving the discovery or pursuit of a mysterious island.
Modern Literature
London, Skeffington, [1936].
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original green boards. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Gordon Volk was a UK author who specialised in crime adventures. He also wrote under the pseudonym Raymond Knotts. His work The Isle of Men is noted for its lost race theme.
Modern Literature
London, Bodley Head, 1928.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original red decorative cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
"Joshua Fendick had reached the stage in his life where he was ready to quit his job of wealth and cross the frontier of the matter-of-fact into the Land of Illusion. An old desire asserted itself and Joshua became a sculptor. And like Pygmalion in the old myth, Joshua fell in love with his creation—or rather, with the model it resembled..." Attractive dust-jacket artwork.
Modern Literature
Livingston (Armstrong) and Thomas H. Griffiths. The Juju Man
New York, Siebel, 1926.
First edition, first printing. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket.
"There are some fine thoroughbred scoundrels in this tale of the dark and mysterious African bush..." (jacket blurb). An attractive first edition.
Modern Literature
London, Chatto & Windus, 1936.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original brown cloth. Dust-jacket.
Attractive jacket on this first edition of New Zealand author Escott's most famous work, set in New Zealand.
Modern Literature
London, Hutchinson, 1963.
First edition. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket, priced 16s.
The novel centers on Wilson Iyari, a Nigerian public relations officer whose personal and professional lives collide, leading to a crisis that challenges his ideals. Cyprian Ekwensi (1921–2007) was a prominent Nigerian author known for his urban-themed novels and contributions to African literature.
Modern Literature
London, Hodder & Stoughton, [1919].
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original mustard yellow pictorial cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 6/-.
Excellent jacket artwork on this uncommon title, particularly in the jacket.
Modern Literature
London, Hodder & Stoughton, [1926].
First UK edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A romance set in the California desert, showcasing Gregory's signature blend of adventure and vivid descriptions of the Western landscape.
Modern Literature
Essays in unorthodox research
London, privately printed, 1975.
First edition. Inscribed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket.
This collection features essays by Roger Lancelyn Green that delve into unconventional topics, likely exploring literary analysis, historical curiosities, and speculative research, reflecting Green's diverse interests.
Modern Literature
Connington (J.J., pseud. Alfred Walter Stewart) Tom Tiddler’s Island
London, Hodder & Stoughton, [1933].
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket.
A plot set on the Scottish island of Ruffa involving alchemy, hidden treasures and dangerous adversaries. Rare in the dust-jacket.
Modern Literature
London, Ward Lock & Co., 1935.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original brown cloth. Dust-jacket, price-clipped, with code '658 A'.
Reginald-listed sci-fi.
Modern Literature
London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1937.
First edition, first impression. Presentation copy from the author, inscribed on title-page. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Victor MacClure (1887–1963) was a Scottish artist and author, also known as Thom MacWalter. He specialised in detective novels and contemporary thrillers. His only science fiction novel, The Ark of the Covenant (1924), explored themes of world disarmament and advanced technologies.
Modern Literature
London, The Bodley Head, 1935.
First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 2/6.
This novel tells the story of Able Seaman Brown, who, after his ship is sunk during World War I, finds himself stranded on a desolate island. Utilizing his resourcefulness, he engages in a solitary guerrilla campaign against a German cruiser anchored nearby, highlighting themes of duty, resilience, and the impact of individual actions in warfare.
Modern Literature
London, Hodder & Stoughton, [1924].
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Hubin-listed crime thriller.
![Smith (C[hristine]. Denison) Hobden Holiday](https://lycanthiabooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/86767-300x400.jpg)
![Alternative view of Smith (C[hristine]. Denison) Hobden Holiday](https://lycanthiabooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/86767_2-300x400.jpg)
Modern Literature
London, Methuen, 1934.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original green cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
An attractive novel by an author who had garnered previous respect for poetry.
Modern Literature
and Other Stories
London, Jonathan Cape, 1940.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original oatmean cloth lettered in red. Dust-jacket, priced 7s6d.
A collection of fifteen short stories. The title story, 'The Beauty of the Dead,' originally appearing in The Fortnightly Review in December 1939, portrays a man reflecting on the serene beauty of his deceased wife amidst their cherished possessions.
Modern Literature
London, Constable, 1932.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original black cloth lettered in red to spine. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
Modern Literature
London, Macmillan, 1984.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original red boards. Dust-jacket, priced £8.95.
Modern Literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1968.
First edition, first impression. Signed presentation copy from the author. Original purple boards. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
Modern Literature
London, The Cresset Press, 1944.
First edition. 8vo. Original orange cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 15s.
Modern Literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1929.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7s6d.
Modern Literature
London, Hutchinson, [1941].
First edition. Signed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Original orange cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 8/6.
Winifred Graham was an English novelist and anti-Mormon activist, born Matilda Winifred Muriel Graham on April 21, 1873, in London. She authored 88 books during her lifetime, encompassing romantic novels, thrillers, and critical works on various subjects.
Modern Literature
London, Michael Joseph, 1936.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original brown cloth.
An exploration into the art and craft of marionette puppetry, exploring its history, construction and performance, by the Hornblower creator.