1939 Four Part Setting

Description

Early Edition, Leather Binding

Printed a year after the true first edition.

Ann Bridge is the pseudonym of Mary Ann Dolling, Lady O'Malley.  She is also known as Cottie Sanders. Her novels are mostly based on her own experiences of living in foreign countries. This novel is set 'in the China of a decade ago; it bears no relation to the conditions existing today' (Note to the start of the book). 

From the library of Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie (Audrey Evelyn James Coats, and Audrey Evelyn James Field) at Julian’s Park. Pleydell-Bouverie was the youngest daughter of an Anglo-American lumber and steel millionaire. Audrey was also alleged to be the illegitimate granddaughter of King Edward VII, although she was also rumoured to be his daugher, or the lover of King Edward VIII.  She bought Julians Park in 1940 following her third marriage to the Hon Peter Pleydell-Bouverie. Her circle of friends included Winston Churchill, Coco Chanel and Nancy Mitford. She was featured in Cecil Beaton's 'Book of Beauty' and was regarded as one of the Bright Young Things.

Audrey was a patron of the arts and it is believed that she bound several books herself, as many books from her library were stamped with her name and she owned a group of bookbinding tools. This book is bound in a similar style to other works from her library that contained the binder's stamp 'Audrey Field' to the front pastedown. This book does not bear such a stamp. 

A very smart copy of this uncommon novel.