Description
8vo, III 267pp. Hardcover in black cloth with gilt titles on spine in fine condition with a red non price-clipped d/w adorned by white and black titles on front and spine with a drawn characterisation of Coward on the front as well in excellent unmarked condition now protected by a clear archival covering, internal text and b/w photos are in an excellent state, minor flecking on top and front edges being the slightest of detractions also with a detailed neat insciption in pen on the halftitle page. Apparently in the 1920’s and early 30’s, Coward stepped aside from his theatrical career to compile these three volumes parodying the literary pretensions of the time. ‘Nosegay’ has very colourful memoirs of ten unlikely royal personages, ‘Chelsea Buns’ is his famous take-off of Edith Sitwell’s erudite verse, and ‘Spangled Unicorn’ is a brief anthology of ten imaginary poets. Never before republished,the exquisite collection reveals a further facet of his talent and is quite a good starting point for anyone reading Coward for the first time.