As it Was.
[Together with:] A World Without End.
London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1926 & 1931 Stock Code: 144490
First edition, first impression, of Thomas's tender yet frank memoirs of her life with poet Edward Thomas, in elegant matching bindings.
Thomas began writing these memoirs in an attempt to lift herself from her depression following the death of her husband Edward Thomas in 1917. Two leaves at pp. 53-6 of As It Was were cancelled prior to publication for containing passages detailing intimate aspects of the couples' sex life deemed too risqué for a contemporary readership. Despite this omission and the camouflaging of the identities of her husband and all other characters, many friends took objection to the remaining sexual details they felt ostensibly lessened Edward's status as a war hero. Robert Frost was so appalled by the memoirs that he dropped the dedication to Helen that appeared in one of his volumes of poetry, and the memoir was banned outright in Boston. Despite the controversy, Thomas's memoirs have remained in print and are almost always published as one volume.
This set is from the library of the Scottish philanthropist, fine art collector, and curling player Andrew Henderson Bishop (1874-1957), with his arts and crafts bookplates to front pastedowns, and a letter bound in at the rear of As It Was, dated 23 November 1926, to him from the booksellers John & Edward Bumpus Ltd where he purchased the book from.
Description
2 volumes, octavo (185 x 117 mm). Finely bound in matching contemporary blue morocco signed "D.K." on rear pastedowns, titles in gilt direct to spines, raised bands, floral and foliate motifs in gilt to compartments, single gilt fillet frames to boards, beige endpapers, top edges gilt, others untrimmed. Spines and front panels of the dust jacket and original red cloth of As It Was bound in at the beginning.
Illustrations
As It Was with the errata slip tipped-in.
Condition
Spines uniformly faded, the bindings otherwise sharp, internally crisp; a fine set.
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