MACCARTHY, John Bernard. Possessions. London: Hutchinson. n.d. [1926]. 8vo. First edition. Publisher’s red cloth lettered in black to the spine and upper board, in the striking dust jacket. A very good copy overall, the cloth clean, bright and sharp, the binding tight and ever so slightly rolled. Some mild spots to the textblock edges, the contents fine throughout barring a few handling marks to prelims. The dust jacket priced 7/6 net to the spine panel, several small nicks, chips and closed tears, most edges creased, white segments a little grubby, but a fairly well-preserved example.
The second of only three novels by the County Cork man who found much fame for his earlier plays. Active from a young age in amateur dramatics, MacCarthy turned quickly to play-writing, and several plays were accepted by the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. Many of these were praised by, among others, W. B. Yeats, and adaptations encouraged London critics to offer favourable reviews. Three novels appeared in quick succession, all set local to the author’s seaside home in Crosshaven, before he found financial security in short stories. Possessions is a home drama of sorts, following a prosperous businessman with a thematic final line that should resonate for all dealing and collecting: ‘we are but guardians of things for a little while’. Scarce.
MACCARTHY, John Bernard. Possessions. London: Hutchinson. n.d. [1926]. 8vo. First edition. Publisher’s red cloth lettered in black to the spine and upper board, in the striking dust jacket. A very good copy overall, the cloth clean, bright and sharp, the binding tight and ever so slightly rolled. Some mild spots to the textblock edges, the contents fine throughout barring a few handling marks to prelims. The dust jacket priced 7/6 net to the spine panel, several small nicks, chips and closed tears, most edges creased, white segments a little grubby, but a fairly well-preserved example.
The second of only three novels by the County Cork man who found much fame for his earlier plays. Active from a young age in amateur dramatics, MacCarthy turned quickly to play-writing, and several plays were accepted by the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. Many of these were praised by, among others, W. B. Yeats, and adaptations encouraged London critics to offer favourable reviews. Three novels appeared in quick succession, all set local to the author’s seaside home in Crosshaven, before he found financial security in short stories. Possessions is a home drama of sorts, following a prosperous businessman with a thematic final line that should resonate for all dealing and collecting: ‘we are but guardians of things for a little while’. Scarce.
