London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1914. Very Good. Item #48776

London: Hodder and Stoughton, [1914]. First Edition. Octavo (19.5cm); publisher's red pictorial cloth stamped in gilt; 331pp. Cloth a bit rubbed at corners and spine ends, light soil, spine somewhat dulled, extensive contemporary pencil notes to rear endpapers; About Very Good and sound overall. Warmly inscribed and signed by the author on half title page in year of publication, "To Robert H. Davies [sic?] in kindest remembrance / Emmuska Orczy / Feb. 3rd 1914."

The author's historical novel of ancient Rome and Mad Caligula. This copy is almost certainly inscribed to Robert H. Davis, the editor of Munsey magazine, who wrote to the Baroness Orczy after reading this novel. Portions of the letter were then published in syndicated newspapers: "It is inconceivable that a woman so carefully nurtured, so gentle by nature, and so obviously domestic in all things could have plunged herself, as you have plunged yourself, into that period of iniquity, bloodshed and abandon" (The Birmingham Post-Harold, Aug. 23, 1914).

Price: $350.00