{"product_id":"the-shadow-of-the-rope-e-w-hornung-new-impression","title":"The Shadow of the Rope, E. W. Hornung — New Impression","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublication:\u003c\/b\u003e London, Chatto \u0026amp; Windus, 1911\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormatting:\u003c\/b\u003e 8vo, pp. [viii], 341.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Report:\u003c\/b\u003e Good. The volume maintains strong structural integrity with a notably firm binding and bright gilt lettering to the spine and front board. The striking pictorial onlay remains well-preserved with minimal rubbing to the illustration. However, the book warrants this grade due to moderate-to-heavy foxing along the deckled fore-edge and top edge, which extends prominently into the preliminary leaves and title page. The red cloth boards exhibit moderate signs of handling and storage, including slight bumping to the spine extremities and a distinct white rub mark towards the upper centre of the rear board. Overall, it presents as a robust, highly readable copy of a scarce binding, despite the internal foxing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCatalogue Note:\u003c\/b\u003e A 1911 'New Impression' of Hornung's engaging crime thriller, originally published in the UK by Chatto \u0026amp; Windus in 1902. This particular impression is notable for its highly attractive secondary binding, featuring a vivid pictorial onlay to the front board depicting a dramatic Old Bailey courtroom scene, attributed to the illustrator T. H. Valda.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eE. W. Hornung, best known as the creator of the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, pivots here to explore themes of societal prejudice, murder, and redemption in a standalone mystery. Copies of this specific 1911 impression with the decorative cloth binding are genuinely scarce on the open market, making this an appealing acquisition for collectors of early twentieth-century detective fiction and pictorial cloth bindings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Alexander Steele is found murdered in his London home, his young wife, Rachel, finds herself in the dock at the Old Bailey, standing trial for his life. Though legally acquitted of the crime, the shadow of the rope follows her as polite society unequivocally condemns her. Seeking anonymity and refuge, she accepts a marriage of convenience from an eccentric millionaire who offers her a secluded life. However, as past acquaintances resurface and dark secrets unravel, Rachel realises the true murderer is still at large, and her fight for genuine freedom has only just begun.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Broadhursts Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54969023234387,"sku":"5514","price":30.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/1469\/6787\/files\/20260915_123026.jpg?v=1789641800","url":"https:\/\/broadhurstsbooks.com\/products\/the-shadow-of-the-rope-e-w-hornung-new-impression","provider":"Broadhursts Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}