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Literature : Modern Literature

First editions and signed copies of important 20th-century literature, including novels, mystery and detective fiction, science fiction, plays, and poetry, with an emphasis on English speaking authors such as Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Iris Murdoch, J.R.R. Tolkien, Agatha Christie, P. G. Wodehouse, and John le Carré.

See: Children’s Literature, Greek & Roman Classics, Illustrated Literature, Literary Criticism, Literature, Pre-1900 Literature

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  • A lovely copy of the first edition of Twenty-Five Poems, Dylan Thomas's second collection.
    A lovely copy of the first edition of Twenty-Five Poems, Dylan Thomas's second collection.

    THOMAS, Dylan.
    Twenty-Five Poems. 1936.
    $2,700.00

  • First edition of The Ideal Giant by Wyndham Lewis, the author's first separate literary book.
    First edition of The Ideal Giant by Wyndham Lewis, the author's first separate literary book.

    LEWIS, Wyndham.
    The Ideal Giant. The Code of a Herdsman. Cantelman's Spring-Mate. 1917.
    $1,718.00

  • A first edition, first impression of Metroland by Julian Barnes. The author's first book
    A first edition, first impression of Metroland by Julian Barnes. The author's first book

    BARNES, Julian.
    Metroland. 1980.
    $516.00

  • First edition of The Beast Must Die, a work of detective fiction written by the poet Laureate Cecil Day Lewis under the pseudonym of Nicholas Blake.
    First edition of The Beast Must Die, a work of detective fiction written by the poet Laureate Cecil Day Lewis under the pseudonym of Nicholas Blake.

    [DAY LEWIS, Cecil]. BLAKE, Nicholas (pseud.)
    The Beast Must Die. 1938.
    $3,092.00

  • First UK edition of Letting Down my Hair by Lorrie Davis with Rachel Gallagher, published in London in 1974.
    First UK edition of Letting Down my Hair by Lorrie Davis with Rachel Gallagher, published in London in 1974.

    DAVIS, Lorrie; GALLAGHER, Rachel (with).
    Letting Down My Hair. 1974.
    $207.00

  • First edition of Nineteen Stories by Graham Greene in the unclipped dustjacket. A post-war collection of stories, uncommon in the dustjacket.
    First edition of Nineteen Stories by Graham Greene in the unclipped dustjacket. A post-war collection of stories, uncommon in the dustjacket.

    GREENE, Graham.
    Nineteen Stories. 1947.
    $516.00

  • First edition of Dead Babies by Martin Amis, the author's second book.
    First edition of Dead Babies by Martin Amis, the author's second book.

    AMIS, Martin.
    Dead Babies. 1975.
    $378.00

  • First edition of Alfred Wallis: Primitive by Sven Berlin in the dustjacket.
    First edition of Alfred Wallis: Primitive by Sven Berlin in the dustjacket.

    BERLIN, Sven.
    Alfred Wallis: Primitive. 1949.
    $344.00

  • The first printing of The Fall of a Nation by Thomas Dixon, published in New York in 1916.
    The first printing of The Fall of a Nation by Thomas Dixon, published in New York in 1916.

    DIXON, Thomas.
    The Fall of a Nation. 1916.
    $344.00

  • First edition of Solitude by Vita Sackville-West in the dustjacket, published by The Hogarth Press in 1938.
    First edition of Solitude by Vita Sackville-West in the dustjacket, published by The Hogarth Press in 1938.

    SACKVILLE-WEST, Vita.
    Solitude. 1938.
    $344.00

  • The dedication copy of Percy Wallingford and Mr Pidgeer by Lord Berners, with the author's inscription beneath the printed dedication
    The dedication copy of Percy Wallingford and Mr Pidgeer by Lord Berners, with the author's inscription beneath the printed dedication

    BERNERS, [Gerald] Lord.
    Percy Wallingford and Mr. Pidger. 1941.
    $378.00

  • A superb association copy of The Mystery and the Charity of Charles Peguy, inscribed to the publisher Tom Rosenthal by the author Sir Geoffrey Hill.
    A superb association copy of The Mystery and the Charity of Charles Peguy, inscribed to the publisher Tom Rosenthal by the author Sir Geoffrey Hill.

    HILL, Geoffrey.
    The Mystery and the Charity of Charles Peguy. 1983.
    $619.00

  • A signed copy of Honourable Estate by the great Vera Brittain published in London in 1936.
    A signed copy of Honourable Estate by the great Vera Brittain published in London in 1936.

    BRITTAIN, Vera.
    Honourable Estate. 1936.
    $516.00

  • An attractive signed first edition of the first novel by Kingsley Amis, Lucky Jim features an inferior academic in a second-rate university
    An attractive signed first edition of the first novel by Kingsley Amis, Lucky Jim features an inferior academic in a second-rate university

    AMIS, Kingsley.
    Lucky Jim. 1953.
    $13,054.00

  • A superb association copy of A Distant Propsect, a further volume of biography from Lord Berners, inscribed by him to Clarissa Eden, Countess of Avon.
    A superb association copy of A Distant Propsect, a further volume of biography from Lord Berners, inscribed by him to Clarissa Eden, Countess of Avon.

    BERNERS, [Gerald] Lord.
    A Distant Prospect. 1945.
    $378.00

  • First impression of The Palm Wine Drinkard by Amos Tutuola, inscribed by the author
    First impression of The Palm Wine Drinkard by Amos Tutuola, inscribed by the author

    TUTUOLA, Amos.
    The Palm-Wine Drinkard. 1952.
    $5,153.00

  • First edition of The Mother and Other Poems by Edith Sitwell, inscribed by the author.
    First edition of The Mother and Other Poems by Edith Sitwell, inscribed by the author.

    SITWELL, Edith.
    The Mother and Other Poems. 1915.
    $1,718.00

  • First edition of Out of the Flame by Osbert Sitwell, inscribed by the author to his brother Sacheverell.
    First edition of Out of the Flame by Osbert Sitwell, inscribed by the author to his brother Sacheverell.

    SITWELL, Osbert.
    Out of the Flame. 1923.
    $653.00

  • First edition of Continual Dew by John Betjeman, with the unclipped price jacket. The author's second volme of poems.
    First edition of Continual Dew by John Betjeman, with the unclipped price jacket. The author's second volme of poems.

    BETJEMAN, John.
    Continual Dew. A Little Book of Bourgeois Verse. 1937.
    $447.00

  • Nonesuch edition of Love Among the Haystacks by D.H. Lawrence, published in 1930.
    Nonesuch edition of Love Among the Haystacks by D.H. Lawrence, published in 1930.

    [NONESUCH PRESS]; LAWRENCE, D.H.
    Love Among the Haystacks, & Other Pieces. 1930.
    $172.00

  • First edition of The Dying Gaul by David Jones, containing a wide variety of previously unpublished material.
    First edition of The Dying Gaul by David Jones, containing a wide variety of previously unpublished material.

    JONES, David.
    The Dying Gaul. 1978.
    $104.00

  • First edition, one of 250 copies, of Cactus Coast by Robert Herring, from the library of Eric Walter White.
    First edition, one of 250 copies, of Cactus Coast by Robert Herring, from the library of Eric Walter White.

    HERRING, Robert.
    Cactus Coast. 1934.
    $344.00

  • First edition of Stravinksy - A Critical Survey by Eric Walter White, dedicated by the author to his wife.
    First edition of Stravinksy - A Critical Survey by Eric Walter White, dedicated by the author to his wife.

    [STRAVINSKY, Igor] Eric Walter White.
    Stravinsky - A Critical Survey. 1947.
    $1,031.00

  • Presentation copy of The Chinese Puzzle by Arthur Ransome, inscribed by the author to his friend, the poet and critic Lascelles Abercrombie.
    Presentation copy of The Chinese Puzzle by Arthur Ransome, inscribed by the author to his friend, the poet and critic Lascelles Abercrombie.

    RANSOME, Arthur.
    The Chinese Puzzle. 1927.
    $2,061.00

  • First edition of The Hoofmarks of the Faun by Arthur Ransome, with the dustjacket, from the library of Roger Senhouse.
    First edition of The Hoofmarks of the Faun by Arthur Ransome, with the dustjacket, from the library of Roger Senhouse.

    RANSOME, Arthur.
    The Hoofmarks of the Faun. 1911.
    $2,061.00

  • A beautifully designed publication.
    A beautifully designed publication.

    McEWAN, Ian.
    Solar. 2010.
    $447.00

  • First edition of Spring in New Hampshire by Claude Mckay, the author's first book, which was not issued in this form in America.
    First edition of Spring in New Hampshire by Claude Mckay, the author's first book, which was not issued in this form in America.

    McKAY, Claude.
    Spring in New Hampshire. 1920.
    $1,718.00

  • First edition in English of Happy Days by Samuel Beckett. A great play and a beautiful piece of book design.
    First edition in English of Happy Days by Samuel Beckett. A great play and a beautiful piece of book design.

    BECKETT, Samuel.
    Happy Days: 1962.
    $310.00

  • Presentation copy of the first edition of Of By and About Henry Miller, by Henry Miller to his Danish publisher Hans Reitzel.
    Presentation copy of the first edition of Of By and About Henry Miller, by Henry Miller to his Danish publisher Hans Reitzel.

    MILLER, Henry.
    Of - By - and About Henry Miller. 1947.
    $1,718.00

  • A fine presentation copy of this scarce Canadian work, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper.
    A fine presentation copy of this scarce Canadian work, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper.

    BAXTER, Arthur Beverley.
    The Parts Men Play. 1920
    $207.00

  • A first edition of Adam's Case by Michael Underwood, presented by the author to the poet Dame Edith Sitwell.
    A first edition of Adam's Case by Michael Underwood, presented by the author to the poet Dame Edith Sitwell.

    UNDERWOOD, Michael.
    Adam's Case. 1961.
    $344.00

  • Verdict in Dispute.
    Verdict in Dispute.

    LUSTGARTEN, Edgar.
    Verdict in Dispute. 1949.
    $172.00

  • A selection of 7 famous historical romances by Barbara Cartland each with signed presentation inscription to her neighbour Susie Walduck.
    A selection of 7 famous historical romances by Barbara Cartland each with signed presentation inscription to her neighbour Susie Walduck.

    CARTLAND, Barbara.
    A collection of 7 UK editions in hardback format 1986-1994.
    $653.00

  • First edition inscribed by the author in red ink on front free endpaper, dated 1996.
    First edition inscribed by the author in red ink on front free endpaper, dated 1996.

    CARTLAND, Barbara.
    Love at the Helm. 1980.
    $344.00

  • First edition inscribed by the author in pink ink on front free endpaper, dated 1990.
    First edition inscribed by the author in pink ink on front free endpaper, dated 1990.

    CARTLAND, Barbara.
    The Perfume of the Gods. 1987.
    $344.00

  • First edition inscribed by the author in red ink on front pastedown, dated 1997.
    First edition inscribed by the author in red ink on front pastedown, dated 1997.

    CARTLAND, Barbara.
    Bride to a Brigand. 1984.
    $310.00

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