Joan La Romée. A Drama.
London: The Fortune Press, 1926. Limited Edition. Hard Cover. Small octavo. 96pp. Original black buckram with gilt titling to front board. Top edge gilt. Title page in red and black. Edition limited to 350 numbered copies, signed by the author. A play based on the life of Jeanne of Arc. The author, Frank Harris (1856-1931) was a prolific British writer, journalist, publisher and general scoundrel. He had a long and rather leech-like relationship with Aleister Crowley, with each seemingly trying to benefit from their relationship with the other, and also shared Crowley's great interest in sex: Harris' erotic autobiography "My Life and Loves" causing great scandal - and predictably being banned - at the time of its publication. This is the first hardcover edition of "Joan La Romée" - there was apparently an American edition in wrappers published a few months before it. The play is prefaced by a letter to Harris from George Bernard Shaw, who quite unsubtly suggests that it is trash, which is followed by a spirited, and equally blunt risposte from Harris. Boards a little rubbed, and some light flecking to the endpapers. Still a tight, clean, VG + copy (believe no dust jacket issued). Item #50427
Price: $60.00