Compton Mackenzie: An Appraisal of his Literary Work, Leo Robertson — 1st Edition

£300.00

Compton Mackenzie: An Appraisal of his Literary Work, Leo Robertson — 1st Edition

Name: Compton Mackenzie: An Appraisal of his Literary Work, Leo Robertson — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4019
Price: 300.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, The Richards Press, 1954

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 230.

Condition Report: Near Fine. The book's structural integrity remains excellent, presenting with a tight, square binding and clean, vibrant blue cloth boards that exhibit bright, unoxidised gilt lettering to the spine. Internally, the pages are crisp and largely free from wear, though the text block edges display minor, age-appropriate toning. The accompanying dust jacket remains unclipped (bearing the 12/6 net price) and largely intact, showing light dusting and minor handling wear to the pale panels, alongside a few closed tears and slight chipping restricted to the spine ends and upper edges.

Catalogue Note: This is a first edition, featuring a frontispiece portrait of Compton Mackenzie reproduced from a photograph by Robin Adler. The volume boasts remarkable provenance as a significant association copy, bearing a presentation inscription on the front free endpaper: "To Richard Church / From Leo Robertson / 17.1.55." Richard Church was a highly regarded English poet, critic, and novelist, and his work is referenced within the text itself.

Adding vital literary context, this copy is accompanied by two loosely inserted Autograph Letters Signed (A.L.S.) from Robertson to Church, dated January 1955 on Woolstone Road headed paper, discussing the presentation of the book. Further accompanying the volume are a carbon typescript of review notes and a contemporary press cutting of a review from Truth magazine (May 1955). While standard copies of this text occasionally appear on the open market, an inscribed association copy enriched with such substantive, original manuscript correspondence is distinctly rare.

In this thoughtful critique, Leo Robertson offers a comprehensive appraisal of the prolific and multifaceted writer Sir Compton Mackenzie. Moving beyond mere biography, Robertson delves into the stylistic nuances, recurrent themes, and sheer breadth of Mackenzie's output, shedding light on the artistic vision that animated his extensive bibliography. It serves as an essential companion for collectors and scholars seeking a deeper understanding of one of the twentieth century's most colourful literary figures.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: Leo Robertson

Book Publisher: The Richards Press

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Criticism & Essays

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: Yes

Book Pages: 230

Book Publication Year: 1954

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.

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