Description
First edition, first printing. Published by Hamish Hamilton in London, 1945. This is a very good (or better) copy. The dust wrapper, illustrated by Roger Furse, has some slight nicks present. There are hairline creases to the top and tail edges of both panels. It has not been price clipped, showing the appropriate ‘8s. 6d. net’ price in accordance with the first issue. The boards are bright and firm in the original publisher’s cloth. The gilt titling is clean and bright. Due to poor wartime paper stock, the text blocks are foxed and slightly toned. This copy is free from previous owner’s ink and is, overall, a very good (or better) copy.
Mitford’s breakthrough novel and the first in her iconic trilogy, preceding ‘Love in a Cold Climate’ (1949) and ‘Don’t Tell Alfred’ (1960). It is about an upper-class English family in the interwar period focusing on the romantic life of Linda Radlett, as narrated by her cousin, Fanny Logan. Although a comedy, the story has tragic overtones. The first issue is incredibly scarce, with this title selling over 200,000 copies in the year of publication.
