Colonel Effingham's Raid

New York, NY: Duell, Sloan and Pearce, 1943. Hard Cover. Fine/Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Maybe 1st edition. Set in 1940 Georgia, it is the story of W. Seaborn Effingham, Colonel U.S. Army, retired, who returns to his home town of Fredericksville. The colonel offers to write a weekly column for a local paper, covering the war in Europe. But after many years away from Fredericksville, Effingham doesn't understand how its citizens have abdicated all government to a small, one-party clique, the Home Folks Party. In his colorful, detailed account of Revolutionary and Civil War local historywith occasional attention paid to the growing World Warthe Colonel's column stirs up the powers that be. The community is split over whether to renovate or tear down the town courthouse, and there's a showdown in which Effingham is a catalyst. Fleming's barbs seem gentle, but they go deep in this delightful satire as we watch the odd, single-minded, thoroughly upstanding Colonel bring to bear the forces of honesty and common sense. Although the ending isn't officially a victory for him, Effingham really does win. 279 pages. A blue dust jacket with the title in red and authors name in white. A 1" tear on front cover right corner and next to spine edge with two 1" creases close to it. Some heavy rubbing on top & bottom & edges of spine, and 4 outside corners and some places on outside edges..