MAYO, Katherine. Slaves of the Gods
MAYO, Katherine. Slaves of the Gods. London: Jonathan Cape. 1929. 8vo. First edition. Publisher’s burgundy cloth lettered in gilt to the spine, in the striking typographic dust jacket. A very good copy, the cloth clean and bright, the binding tight and very slightly rolled. The contents clean and fine throughout but for a little offsetting to endpapers. The dust jacket unclipped (7s 6d net) with several small nicks and chips to the corners, spine tips and along some edges, joints rubbed, a touch toned in places but a smart example overall.
A sequel-of-sorts to the American historian’s highly contentious Mother India (1927), both of which garnered perhaps as many critics as it did admirers for its anti-Indian independence stance—Gandhi was one such critic who spoke out against Mayo, and copies of Mother India were burned on publication. This, told in short stories, attacks Indian society and culture, from its religion to its people to its very soul. Though difficult for today’s reader to envision Mayo as anything but xenophobic, her contemporary popularity might be a result of her persuasive, authoritative syntax. Perhaps her focus on the female experience can be commended for its time, too, and if nothing else positive, it stirred authors and politicians worldwide to write various novels and essays countering Mayo’s work and in praise of India. The dust jacket, very probably by Theyre Lee Elliott though not signed as such, also adds a little extra appeal.
MAYO, Katherine. Slaves of the Gods. London: Jonathan Cape. 1929. 8vo. First edition. Publisher’s burgundy cloth lettered in gilt to the spine, in the striking typographic dust jacket. A very good copy, the cloth clean and bright, the binding tight and very slightly rolled. The contents clean and fine throughout but for a little offsetting to endpapers. The dust jacket unclipped (7s 6d net) with several small nicks and chips to the corners, spine tips and along some edges, joints rubbed, a touch toned in places but a smart example overall.
A sequel-of-sorts to the American historian’s highly contentious Mother India (1927), both of which garnered perhaps as many critics as it did admirers for its anti-Indian independence stance—Gandhi was one such critic who spoke out against Mayo, and copies of Mother India were burned on publication. This, told in short stories, attacks Indian society and culture, from its religion to its people to its very soul. Though difficult for today’s reader to envision Mayo as anything but xenophobic, her contemporary popularity might be a result of her persuasive, authoritative syntax. Perhaps her focus on the female experience can be commended for its time, too, and if nothing else positive, it stirred authors and politicians worldwide to write various novels and essays countering Mayo’s work and in praise of India. The dust jacket, very probably by Theyre Lee Elliott though not signed as such, also adds a little extra appeal.
MAYO, Katherine. Slaves of the Gods. London: Jonathan Cape. 1929. 8vo. First edition. Publisher’s burgundy cloth lettered in gilt to the spine, in the striking typographic dust jacket. A very good copy, the cloth clean and bright, the binding tight and very slightly rolled. The contents clean and fine throughout but for a little offsetting to endpapers. The dust jacket unclipped (7s 6d net) with several small nicks and chips to the corners, spine tips and along some edges, joints rubbed, a touch toned in places but a smart example overall.
A sequel-of-sorts to the American historian’s highly contentious Mother India (1927), both of which garnered perhaps as many critics as it did admirers for its anti-Indian independence stance—Gandhi was one such critic who spoke out against Mayo, and copies of Mother India were burned on publication. This, told in short stories, attacks Indian society and culture, from its religion to its people to its very soul. Though difficult for today’s reader to envision Mayo as anything but xenophobic, her contemporary popularity might be a result of her persuasive, authoritative syntax. Perhaps her focus on the female experience can be commended for its time, too, and if nothing else positive, it stirred authors and politicians worldwide to write various novels and essays countering Mayo’s work and in praise of India. The dust jacket, very probably by Theyre Lee Elliott though not signed as such, also adds a little extra appeal.