Very scarce with the wrapper

Stead, Christina ~ The Salzburg Tales

Peter Davies, London : 1934

The First UK printing published by Peter Davies, London in 1934. The BOOK is in Very Good++ condition. 8vo., pink cloth, lettered with decorative device in gilt to spine; in the publisher's unclipped wrapper ('7/6 net' to the front flap); lightly sunned to the spine and some pushing to the spine tips; some small light splash marks to upper text-block ; a little toning and offsetting to the endpapers; some sporadic spotting, mostly affecting the outer edge of text block and prelims; The WRAPPER is in Very Good++ condition, a little darkened and rubbed in places; small split along the front flap fold; some expert Japanese paper repairs and restoration to the folds, the losses at the spine ends, and to one closed tear at the rear panel (see images); an excellent survivor nonetheless. The wrapper remains striking in a removable Brodart archival cover. The debut book by Christina Stead, a highly-respected Australian author and committed Marxist who spent most of her adult life outside of her native country. Born in 1902, she left Australia in 1928, settling in London with the American broker, novelist and Marxist political economist William James Blech. Stead had committed to a career as a writer in 1925, while still in Australia, and 'The Salzburg Tales' appeared a few years later. Described by Bleiler in 'The Guide to Supernatural Fiction' as 'A septameron of interlocking narratives set against the backdrop of the famous music festival', the work is divided into seven separate days, with much of the supernatural material 'drawn from literary sources and classical legend, akin to Garnett's 'The Twilight of the Gods (1888) in subject matter and ironic tone.' Also compared to the Decameron, as well as De Quincey and Poe, the core involves a number of characters telling a series of interwoven 'strange tales, which for richness of imagination and vocabulary, for originality of manner and conception, have no parallel in modern fiction' (wrapper blurb). The book was the first in a line of twelve novels and numerous short stories which Stead would publish in her lifetime, with 'Seven Poor Men of Sydney' appearing in the same year as the present title. In 1979, the 'Christina Stead Prize for Fiction' was created in her honour, and is still gifted today to writers of fiction - either novels or collections of short stories. A very elusive title to find with the wrapper in any condition.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Very Good ++
JACKET: Very Good ++