ANONYMOUS [NELSON, Michael Harrington]. A Room in Chelsea Square. London: Jonathan Cape. 1958. 8vo. First edition. Publisher’s superb red-and-black checkerboard design to boards, lettered in white to the spine, and in the dust jacket designed by Hans Tisdall. A very good copy. The cloth clean and bright, the binding very tight and gently rolled. A few light spots to textblock edges and within, but largely fine. The dust jacket unclipped (15s net), several small nicks and closed tears around crown and upper corners, other corners and foot gently rubbed. Mild marks to panels, else a sharp copy.
The author’s most famous work and some, published posthumously on account of its explicit homosexual content in a time where homosexuality was still illegal. A wealthy dilettante and patron of young men brings a provincial protege to smart Bohemia in London, showering him with all manner of the sweet life luxury as a means to influence and coerce him into romance. Prominent literary figures appear, albeit thinly-disguised, including Cyril Connolly, Stephen Spender, and Peter Watson among others.
ANONYMOUS [NELSON, Michael Harrington]. A Room in Chelsea Square. London: Jonathan Cape. 1958. 8vo. First edition. Publisher’s superb red-and-black checkerboard design to boards, lettered in white to the spine, and in the dust jacket designed by Hans Tisdall. A very good copy. The cloth clean and bright, the binding very tight and gently rolled. A few light spots to textblock edges and within, but largely fine. The dust jacket unclipped (15s net), several small nicks and closed tears around crown and upper corners, other corners and foot gently rubbed. Mild marks to panels, else a sharp copy.
The author’s most famous work and some, published posthumously on account of its explicit homosexual content in a time where homosexuality was still illegal. A wealthy dilettante and patron of young men brings a provincial protege to smart Bohemia in London, showering him with all manner of the sweet life luxury as a means to influence and coerce him into romance. Prominent literary figures appear, albeit thinly-disguised, including Cyril Connolly, Stephen Spender, and Peter Watson among others.
