Gerald: A Portrait
by Daphne du Maurier
- Used
- very good
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Very Good/Very Good
- Seller
-
BATH, Somerset, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1934. First edition. Cloth. Very Good/Very Good. 9" by 6". Not Stated. A first edition, second impression of Daphne du Maurier's biography of her father, uncommon in the original dust wrapper. The first edition, second impression of this work, published in the same month as the first, in the publisher's original cloth binding, with the original unclipped dust wrapper. The biography of Sir Gerald du Maurier (1873-1934), an actor and manager of Wyndham's Theatre between 1910 and 1925. He was best known for his acclaimed performances in two of J. M. Barrie's plays: as Ernest in The Admirable Crichton, and as George Darling and Captain Hook in Peter Pan. This biography was written by his daughter, the notable author Dame Daphne du Maurier. An interesting work in the uncommon dust wrapper. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with the original unclipped dust wrapper. Externally, cloth is bright, with marks to the boards. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean except for spotting to the fore edge, affecting the occasional page. Dust wrapper is chipped to the head and tail of the spine, and to the extremities of the rear of the wrap. Three small tape repairs to the verso of the wrap. Very Good
Reviews
On Oct 31 2013, Feeney said:
Londoner Sir Gerald Hubert Edward Busson du Maurier lived from 1873 - 1934. He was a popular actor both on stage and in films. He became financially well off 1910 - 1925 when he managed for owner Frank Curzon Wyndham's Theatre in London. He then moved on with less success to managing the St James's Theatre. His sister's sons inspired J.M. Barrie to write PETER PAN, or THE BOY WHO WOULDN'T GROW UP. Du Maurier played both Captain Hook and George Darling in the 1904 stage premiere. *** Sir Gerald and his actress wife had three daughters: a painter and two novelists. Second daughter Daphne du Maurier (later to write REBECCA) penned GERALD: A PORTRAIT not long after her father's death from colon cancer. She portrayed him, it seems to me, as Peter Pan or at least as a boy who never grew up. The man himself never realized his potential. He had no religion, no serious interests, was an incessant practical joker and made life truly miserable for his three daughters as they passed beyond puberty and explored their sexuality without making him their confidant in their amours. *** As she matured, Dame Daphne du Maurier (1907 - 1989) became firmly convinced that each and every human being "echoes" his or her ancestors. Not just their blood, their genes, their DNA, but also the lives they lived, the books they read, the enemies they made. To understand her father, Sir Gerald du Maurier, it was, therefore, necessary to understand his parents, brothers and sisters and their friends and milieu. Thus the first quarter of GERALD: A PORTRAIT focuses on Gerald's parents. They were George Louis Palmella Busson du Maurier (1834 – 1896) and Emma Wightwick, who married in 1863. George was born in France, bilingual in French and English, a renowned painter and later cartoonist for PUNCH. Late in life he wrote three novels, of which the most famous is TRILBY and its sinister character the musical genius/hypnotist Svengali. Gerald du Maurier, as a very young actor, played in the stage version of his father's novel, TRILBY. Daphne never met her grandfather, but she read his novels and letters and seemed to love absolutely everything she learned of this genial, loving forebear. *** Readers who want to garner all they can learn about Daphne du Maurier will of necessity learn all they can about her distinguished family. GERALD: A PORTRAIT is a grand place to start. -OOO-
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Details
- Bookseller
- Rooke Books (GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 876M14
- Title
- Gerald: A Portrait
- Author
- Daphne du Maurier
- Illustrator
- Not Stated
- Format/Binding
- Cloth
- Book Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First edition
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Publisher
- Victor Gollancz Ltd
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 1934
- Size
- 9" by 6"
- Keywords
- Daphne du Maurier Biography Gerald Biography
Terms of Sale
Rooke Books
Books are sent on approval and may be returned in like condition for any reason within 14 days of receipt. Responsibility of return to be with the purchaser.
About the Seller
Rooke Books
Biblio member since 2007
BATH, Somerset
About Rooke Books
Welcome to Rooke Books Antiquarian Bookseller
We are a small team dedicated to bringing you very scarce books at reasonable prices. We specialise in rare and hard to come by works on all subjects over the last 500 years, together with modern first editions and decorative sets and bindings. Our library has something for every interest and specialism. We deliver worldwide using a fully tracked and insured courier delivery service.
Where are We?
Based in the literary city of Bath, our offices are housed in the Eastern Dispensary. Built in 1845, the building originally existed as a charitable institution providing medical care. The building now houses our collection of over twenty thousand books and has five full time members of staff.
We are a small team dedicated to bringing you very scarce books at reasonable prices. We specialise in rare and hard to come by works on all subjects over the last 500 years, together with modern first editions and decorative sets and bindings. Our library has something for every interest and specialism. We deliver worldwide using a fully tracked and insured courier delivery service.
Where are We?
Based in the literary city of Bath, our offices are housed in the Eastern Dispensary. Built in 1845, the building originally existed as a charitable institution providing medical care. The building now houses our collection of over twenty thousand books and has five full time members of staff.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Tail
- The heel of the spine.
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Fore Edge
- The portion of a book that is opposite the spine. That part of a book which faces the wall when shelved in a traditional...
- Verso
- The page bound on the left side of a book, opposite to the recto page.
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....