20th Century Classics

Silver Mist – Joan Sutherland – First Edition 1935

1935 first edition with a lovely art deco inspired dust jacket. Published by Cassell, London etc, octavo, 287 pages. A ripple to the front board and the odd spot on page edges, really a very good copy in a super dust jacket.

A romance but with some heat. Penelope falls for Sir Garth. The good looking Garth (they both are) is cited in a divorce 1930’s style. The case failed but Sir Garth was left with the stigma (nothing’s changed there). Lady Olivia is a pursuer but maybe Penelope has some tricks in store.

1935 First Edition by the much admired Sutherland.

$60.00

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The Girl Green as Elderflower – Randolph Stow – First Edition 1980

Another absolutely crisp, as if new first edition published by Secker & Warburg, London in 1980.

Octavo, 150 pages, dust jacket art by John Piper.

Randolph Stow had been awarded the Patrick White Award the previous year. White established the award from funds received form his Nobel Prize … good on him.

Following quickly after Visitants a quite different book by Stow. Previous work often dealing with the deterioration of an individual here we have the opposite. Crispin Claire has been badly afflicted by his time in the Tropics. Convalescing in Suffolk the environment provides nourishment. With improved strength he begins to write a narrative around three 12th Century local stories, and he finds himself moving between the present and the time of Richard the Lionheart. Beautifully and skillfully written.

Unusual and gripping story as can expected from Stow.

$50.00

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Doctor in Love – Richard Gordan – First Edition 1957

Anyone who likes Wodehouse will love Richard Gordan and his series of “Doctor” books.

A first edition, published by Michael Joseph, London in 1957 edition, the fifth in the “Doctor” series.

Octavo, 188 pages, in very good condition.

“You can’t go about the country falling in love with girls at your age” … sage advice Grimsdyke gives to his friend Dr Gordon. Another “advisor” observes “the patients don’t like you messing about with their wives unless they know you’ve got one of your own at home”. Taking all this on board matters get complicated and … Dr Gordan finally gets his girl!

The right girls does turn up for Dr Gordan …

$30.00

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The Day of Fire [Suggested by the Life of Arthur Rimbaud] – James Ullman – First Edition 1959

First Edition published by Collins, London in 1959. Octavo, 638 pages. A little sign of age, dust jacket chipped at head, still a very good copy of a special book.

The author had been working on this book for a number of years and provides a nice foreword about Rimbaud, He thanks New Directions for quotes from their “A Season in Hell”, possibly Voyager’s favourite book.

No wonder the author invested so much time, Arthur Rimbaud was an extraordinary individual and apart from his poetry and writing led an extraordinary life, not always on the right side of the law.

Based on the life of Arthur Rimbaud and a colourful life that was.

$30.00

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The Philosopher’s Stone – Iris Murdoch – First Edition 1983

First Edition published by Chatto & Windus – The Hogarth Press, London in 1983.

A substantial work for the already established Murdoch. Thick octavo, 575 pages in a super condition dust jacket. The paper in one gathering a little browned probably due to the paper chemistry … altogether still a very good copy.

A multi character novel, set in the fictitious spa town of Ennistone. Returning philosopher Professor John Rozanov intends to write his “great book”. However, he has plans which create problems for others … power, hatred and a desire for salvation intermingle to form an intense drama.

Iris Murdoch first edition of substance

$50.00

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Tourmaline – Randolph Stow – First Edition 1963

A first edition of this Australian classic published by Macdonald, London in 1963.

Octavo, 224 pages. A very good copy in a slightly chipped dust jacket. Ownership signature on paste down. A few pages near the beginning exhibit a some show through of text from the other side … a little irritating … overcome with a relaxing cup of tea.

A derelict Australian gold rush town is the setting for Randolph Stow’s gripping drama.

The half title informs … “On the surface Tourmaline is the story of an illusion, of a lost township snatching at the chance of rebirth. At a deeper level it is a fable and man’s ever-present temptation to seek refuge from the world of his own reality”

And …who can go past the haunting Sydney Nolan dust jacket?

First Edition and Special

$70.00

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Silver Mist – Joan Sutherland – First Edition 1935

The Girl Green as Elderflower – Randolph Stow – First Edition 1980

Doctor in Love – Richard Gordan – First Edition 1957

The Day of Fire [Suggested by the Life of Arthur Rimbaud] – James Ullman – First Edition 1959

The Philosopher’s Stone – Iris Murdoch – First Edition 1983

Tourmaline – Randolph Stow – First Edition 1963

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