The Oaken Heart

London: Michael Joseph, 1941. First UK Edition, preceding all others. Association Copy, INSCRIBED by the author to Robert Lusty, the co-founder of Michael Joseph (along with Joseph), accompanied by Lusty's decorative bookplate on the front pastedown. The inscription reads: "Bob (Best Publisher on Earth) Lusty / Margery Allingham / 1941."

A nonfiction account of the first year of the Blitz on England, told from the viewpoint of the residents of Tolleshunt D'Arcy, the author's home village (called "Auburn" in the book). Based on Allingham's own correspondence, the book was evidently expanded and published at the urging of Doubleday, her US publisher, who saw it as a way to encourage American support for the isolated British position against the Nazis. The resultant book was lauded for its remarkably intimate, yet unsentimental, perspective on the war, and was reprinted three times within the year of publication.

Book tight and square, red cloth with titles and design in silver. Backstrip with occasional light rubbing and several small splashes, one corner bump and a touch of rubbing to the rear board, overall Very Good or better. Jacket with a neat archival tape reinforcement along the top and bottom edge of the verso (see images), lightly toned spine panel, a few tiny closed tears along the top edge, and faint soil to the rear panel. Otherwise Very Good to Near Fine with no loss whatsoever, quite nice overall.

Rare to find in jacket or signed.

[Book #168894]