London: William Heinemann 1894. Octavo pp. 1-2 i-iv v viii ix x xi-xii 1 2-400 note: preliminaries mis-paginated 20-page publisher's catalogue dated "December 1893" inserted at rear numerous illustrations in the text by George Hutchinson Phil May. F. H. Townsend A. J. Finberg Mark Zangwill and Irving Montagu original decorated terra cotta cloth front panel stamped in dark brown spine panel stamped in gold publisher's monogram stamped in dark brown on rear panel all edges untrimmed. First edition. A collection with several excellent supernatural stories. "A Double-Barrelled Ghost" is that rare thing a humorous ghost story that actually is funny. It concerns an author whose work is ghostwritten by a ghost. The comedy avoids the usual pitfalls of nineteenth century humor which can be seen now as having more to do with reinforcing class-consciousness than causing amusement: the condescending caricature of working class diction and mores or the strained assertion of leisure class diction and mores with their celebration of euphemism and impotence. "The Queen's Triplets" is a fractured fairy tale a clever parody of the form appealing to an intellectual elite. In "The Memory Clearing House" a means is devised for trading memories. An author of light romances wants to write a "realistic" novel so he buys the memories of a murderer who is happy to part with them and proceeds to write a first-person novelization of the murderer's crime. It is panned by the critics as unbelievable. Outraged the author goes to the police and shows them where the body is buried. He is arrested and convicted. The mystery classic "Cheating the Gallows" in which a premonitory dream plays a key part can be seen as a clever variation on the Jekyll-and-Hyde theme and perhaps even as a source for the later comedy "The Odd Couple" written by Neil Simon another popular Jewish author. Zangwill's wit is still fresh and his plot twists sharp. An underrated author today similar in some ways to his American contemporary Frank Stockton but more acerbic and cerebral. This book has been in print almost continually since its publication in 1894. The first edition is uncommon. Not in Bleiler 1948; 1978. Not in Reginald 1979. Day p. 96 citing a later edition. Gift inscription dated 3 October 1894 on front free endpaper. Cloth lightly rubbed at edges a bit of scuffing and dustiness to cloth a bit of tanning to front free endpaper but a sound very good copy overall. #149530 William Heinemann unknown
Overlook Hardcover 2002-09-11. Hardcover. Like New. Signed by Author. Collectible signed by author edition! Excellent condition. Interior is tight bright and clean. Hard covers are tight and stiff. Complete with original paper dust cover. Minor scuffing on the paper dust cover from shelf wear. Gift inscription on inside page. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed. All items are carefully enclosed with bubble wrap. We ship promptly and worldwide via US Post and will email you a tracking number. Overlook Hardcover hardcover
Bookseller reference : SKU0032487 ISBN : 1585673072 9781585673070
Arcade Publishing 1995. This hardcover book is square and tight. The boards and spine have no wear with pristine lettering. The pages and endpages are clean with no markings or folds. The dustjacket is As New. Original Price is intact. Not ex-lib. No remainder mark. HARDCOVER. Collectible; Fine. First Edition. Arcade Publishing Hardcover
Bookseller reference : 005292 ISBN : 1559703091 9781559703093
Longman. Used - Good. Ships from the UK. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear and may have some markings on the inside. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Your purchase also supports literacy charities. Longman unknown
Bookseller reference : GRP17028680 ISBN : 0582443679 9780582443679
New York New York: George Braziller Inc 1988. First. Hardcover. VG/VG light shelf wear to boards and dust jacket text and illustration are very clean. Orange cloth over boards white lettering on front cover blue lettering on spine color illustrated dust jacket and mylar cover; 192 pp.; 11 bw figures; 91 color plates. Includes an introduction by Cynthia J. Bogel and annotations for each plate by Israel Goldman; Features some of Hiroshige's best works of flowers and birds; Oversized with full-page plates. George Braziller, Inc hardcover
Bookseller reference : 121867 ISBN : 0807611999 9780807611999
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