God Save the King and other poems.

Rare first edition of Brain Howard's only book, signed by the author.

God Save the King or First Poems contains a collection of eighteen poems, written by the young aesthete and Bright Young Thing Brian Howard when he was twenty-five years old. At this time Howard was seen as a promising young writer and poet, and a member of the literary circle rooted in Oxford. He was, simultaneously, an active member of the Bright Young Things and was a leader in their parties and affairs. Whilst writing the poems he was embroiled in the Bruno Hat Affair, an art hoax that fooled many in the art world in 1929.

The book was published by the author's friend Nancy Cunard, at the Hours Press and, although it reads 1930 on the spine, the book was actually published in January 1931. Alan Pryce-Jones reviewed the book in the London Mercury, writing 'I do not mean to disparage Mr. Howard's poetry when I say it is essentially of our age - as easily dated as Cowley or Monkton Milnes, or T. S. Eliot. It has the extreme sensitiveness to external impressions, the pride, and a sort of anguish at being alive at all, which are usually the springs of modern inspiration.'

First edition, sole printing, one of 150 copies, signed by the author, this copy unnumbered; small folio (29.5 x 19.5 cm); light foxing throughout, heavier to endpapers; publisher's morocco-backed paper-covered boards, cover designs by John Banting, titles to spine gilt, spine rubbed, boards slightly tanned; very good.