Siegfried Sassoon [Saul Kain] – The Daffodil Murderer – First Edition 1913 – First Appearance and winner of the Chantrey Prize Poem
£750.00
A first edition, first printing published by John Richmond in 1913. Original frail orange-yellow wrappers printed in red. Some toning and rubbing – no inscriptions.
The first of Sassoon’s books published as a trade edition, preceded by a string of privately printed volumes of verse. After reading this parody of John Masefield’s ‘Everlasting Mercy’, Edmund Gosse suggested that Sassoon send a parcel of his books to John Marsh, editor of `Georgian Poetry’ which led to further encouragement which Sassoon later said helped “tilt up the bushel under which my light had been burning.” Published under the name Saul Kain, with an admiring preface by “William Butler” (actually the publisher) and presented as if it were “the Chantrey Prize Poem” complete with a fake excerpt from a review or judge’s pronouncement on the front wrapper: “brilliant beyond belief.” Farmer A10. Excessively scarce.
(We don't keep all of our stock in the shop, so send us an email if you're planning a trip to see a particular author or book.)
- Description
Description
A first edition, first printing published by John Richmond in 1913. Original frail orange-yellow wrappers printed in red. Some toning and rubbing – no inscriptions.
The first of Sassoon’s books published as a trade edition, preceded by a string of privately printed volumes of verse. After reading this parody of John Masefield’s ‘Everlasting Mercy’, Edmund Gosse suggested that Sassoon send a parcel of his books to John Marsh, editor of `Georgian Poetry’ which led to further encouragement which Sassoon later said helped “tilt up the bushel under which my light had been burning.” Published under the name Saul Kain, with an admiring preface by “William Butler” (actually the publisher) and presented as if it were “the Chantrey Prize Poem” complete with a fake excerpt from a review or judge’s pronouncement on the front wrapper: “brilliant beyond belief.” Farmer A10. Excessively scarce.
