L. W. Currey, Inc.

Tree, Herbert Beerbohm. NOTHING MATTERS AND OTHER STORIES. London, New York, Toronto & Melbourne: Cassell and Company, Limited, [1917]. Octavo, pp. [i-iv] v [vi] vii-viii 1-249 [250] [251-252: blank] [note: last leaf is a blank], original pictorial dark green cloth, front panel stamped in blind, spine panel stamped in gold. First edition. Tree, the half-brother of author Max Beerbohm, was one of the outstanding actor-managers of the Edwardian theater. His offspring included the famed British director Carol Reed. The present volume (which appeared the year he died) collects ten stories, many with theatrical backgrounds, plus an essay on "The Importance of Humour in Tragedy." Somewhat eccentric material. "The Mystery of Howard Romaine" is a locked-room mystery about an actor who tries to commit suicide only to recover after he has been placed in a coffin; he escapes from the fifth-story room, using the coffin as bridge to climb over to a neighboring building and kills a policeman during his escape. "The Cuckoo Clock" is a tale of delirium involving the transmigration of a soul into a cuckoo clock. "The Fatal Fairy" is about a man who kidnaps a fairy at dawn, whereupon it turns into a monstrous baby vulture -- until he releases it a day later. "The Lament of a Lilliputian Twin" is about Siamese Twins. The best of the stories is probably "The Stuffed Mouse," an ironic little gem that reminds one of Saki and John Collier with its anti-romantic precision. Some scattered foxing to preliminary leaves and edges of text block, else a clean, tight, very good copy. Actually, a very nice copy of this book. While the U.S. first is not too uncommon, this, the true first edition, is scarce. (#119423).

Price: $150.00