Darwin

1933 · Best.-Nr. 5830 — London United Kingdom: Duckworth 1933. First Edition. hardcover. Good. N/A. Publication: London Duckworth 1933 Formatting: 8vo pp. 135. Condition Report: Good. The book remains structurally sound and firmly bound in its original red cloth demonstrating solid structural integrity. The boards exhibit some light uneven sunning and minor shelf-wear to the extremities particularly where the jacket is lacking but present well overall. Internally the pages are clean crisp and largely free from foxing with the front free endpaper bearing a neat ink ownership inscription. The original dust jacket has suffered significant loss entirely lacking its rear panel and exhibiting chipping to the head and foot of the spine; however the striking Pegasus illustration and price medallion on the front panel remain vivid. A sound reading copy with surviving aesthetic appeal. Catalogue Note: This is a first edition of Bernard Darwin’s contribution to Duckworth’s Great Lives series published in 1933. While Darwin is most celebrated for his golf writing he was a devoted authority on Charles Dickens and this compact biography remains a highly regarded study. The front free endpaper bears the ink signature of Granville Garley dated "Scarborough July 1934". Garley was an avid mid-twentieth-century collector of Dickensiana and his dated inscriptions frequently surface on first editions and critical studies of the author from this era adding a pleasing touch of domestic provenance. While copies of the book are relatively common examples retaining any portion of the fragile pre-war dust jacket are increasingly scarce on the open market. Penned by Bernard Darwin grandson of the famed naturalist and an esteemed Dickensian scholar in his own right this concise biography distils the life of Charles Dickens into a single vibrant volume. Originally issued as the eleventh instalment of Duckworth's Great Lives series the book traces the legendary author's journey from his early days in a blacking factory to his transatlantic tours and final years at Gad's Hill. Darwin's lively prose offers both a comprehensive overview for the casual reader and sharp critical insights for the devoted enthusiast. Duckworth hardcover