THE DUET. London: Grayson & Grayson, 1935. Octavo, pp. [1-40] (not paginated), original decorated black cloth, front, spine and rear panels stamped in gold, top edge stained green, other edges untrimmed, decorated endpapers. First edition. Limited to 285 copies of which this is one of 250 numbered copies signed by Bates and offered for sale. A single short story. The author's stories appeared frequently in Edward J. O'Brien's annual anthology series, BEST BRITISH SHORT STORIES. The prolific Bates was primarily a writer of short stories and in this field he was highly regarded by David Garnett and Graham Greene, among others. His style has been traced to the influence of Conrad (and thus of Henry James) and Stephen Crane, but his subject matter is definitely British, concentrating on the lives and tragedies of rural workers, occasionally touching on the theme of madness. See Kunitz and Haycraft, Twentieth Century Authors, pp. 85-6. NCBEL IV 520. A fine copy in fine pictorial dust jacket. (#128153).
Price: $250.00
"285 copies only of this first / edition of THE DUET by / H. E. BATES have been / printed: 250 of these, num - / bered, and signed by the / author, are for sale ..." on limitation leaf.