Mary Anne, Daphne du Maurier — Uncorrected Proof

Publication: London, Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1954

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [vi], 378, [1].

Condition Report: Good. The book remains intact and readable, though it shows moderate signs of wear and use expected for its age and original ephemeral purpose as a proof. The ribbed paper wrappers exhibit noticeable fading and rubbing, particularly along the spine and extremities, alongside light bumping to the corners and small nicks at the spine ends. The spine itself presents a prominent forward lean, while the pasted title label on the front wrapper is slightly darkened but complete. Internally, the text block is securely bound, though the edges are darkened. The pages display standard age-toning and mild, scattered foxing, mostly confined to the preliminary leaves and page edges. A previous owner's signature in ink is present on the half-title, but the primary text remains clean and completely legible, maintaining its structural integrity without any major flaws.

Catalogue Note: This is an uncorrected proof copy of Daphne du Maurier's celebrated historical novel, issued by the publisher in advance of the first trade edition for review or promotional purposes. The novel presents a fictionalised account of the author's own great-great-grandmother, Mary Anne Clarke, who rose to infamy as the mistress of Frederick, Duke of York and Albany during the Napoleonic Wars.

Bound in the publisher's original ribbed brown paper wrappers, with a printed paper title label to the front cover and the publisher's "UNCORRECTED" stamp in black ink. As an ephemeral, pre-publication format, copies in this state were produced in significantly smaller numbers than the standard trade run and were not intended for long-term preservation.

This copy bears the contemporary ink signature of "Stonier" to the half-title, likely denoting G.W. Stonier (George Walter Stonier, 1903–1968), a prominent literary critic and poet who frequently reviewed for the New Statesman and other major periodicals during this era. Such provenance provides an appealing link to the mid-century British literary reviewing circle. Proofs of du Maurier's major works from this period have become notably scarce on the open market, particularly those with tangible associations to contemporary reviewers.

Set against the turbulent backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, Mary Anne tells the captivating true story of Daphne du Maurier's own great-great-grandmother, Mary Anne Clarke. Determined to rise above the squalor of her childhood in Bowling Inn Alley and support her family after a disastrous early marriage, Mary Anne uses her formidable wit, charm, and beauty to ascend through Regency London's society. She ultimately hits the jackpot by becoming the mistress of Frederick Augustus, the Duke of York, the second son of King George III. But as her taste for luxury exceeds the Duke's allowance, she begins a scandalous trade in military commissions, sparking a dramatic government inquiry that threatens to ruin them both. Blending meticulous historical research with du Maurier's signature psychological depth and narrative drive, the novel paints a vivid portrait of a fiercely independent woman battling to survive in a man's world.