When It Was Light: A Reply to "When It Was Dark", [Andrew Lang] "By A Well-known Author"

When It Was Light: A Reply to "When It Was Dark", [Andrew Lang] "By A Well-known Author" — First Edition

Publication: London, John Long, 1906 Crown

Formatting: 8vo.

Condition Report: Very Good. The publisher's original dark grey cloth binding remains sound and structurally tight, displaying a slight spine lean typical of read volumes from this era. The boards exhibit minor rubbing to the extremities and gentle pushing to the spine ends, while the spine itself is uniformly but lightly sunned. Crucially, the distinctive white lettering on the front board and spine remains remarkably bright, unbroken, and unrubbed; a rare survival for this type of delicate pigment stamping. Internally, the text block is sound, though the edges and pages throughout show the expected moderate, uniform age-toning and occasional light foxing inherent to the economy paper stock utilised at the time. A neat, contemporary ink ownership signature graces the front free endpaper. Overall, a highly presentable, solid survivor of a distinctly scarce title.

Catalogue Note: This is a true first edition, first printing of a fascinating Edwardian literary response, internally confirmed by the copyright page stating "First published in 1906". Issued anonymously by "A Well-known Author," this work has been attributed by literary historians, including the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, to the prolific Scottish poet, novelist, and folklorist Andrew Lang, though contemporary rumours occasionally suggested Guy Thorne may have written it himself to mollify disgruntled readers.

The book bears an appealing contemporary provenance with a neat ink ownership inscription to the front free endpaper reading "Lillie. E. Salmon. 11 Queen Street." The title page is presented directly opposite an advertisement for Guy Thorne's A Lost Cause, further embedding this volume in the immediate theological and literary controversies of its day. As a cheaply produced topical novel meant to capitalise on a fleeting cultural moment, surviving first printings in the original cloth are incredibly scarce on the open market today.

When It Was Light was published anonymously in response to the runaway success and intense controversy of Guy Thorne's 1903 bestseller, When It Was Dark. While Thorne’s original novel imagined a devastating global crisis sparked by the fabricated discovery that Christ's resurrection was a hoax, this optimistic counter-narrative restores faith. Set in a quiet rural parish rather than a sprawling metropolis, the story follows a community of steadfast believers who refuse to succumb to the apocalyptic despair sweeping the nation. Holding tight to their convictions, they weather the storm of doubt until the monumental hoax is exposed and the light of truth prevails. It remains a fascinating piece of Edwardian speculative fiction and theological debate.