Olivia

The First UK printing published by The Hogarth Press, London in 1949. The Book is in near Fine condition. Originally purple cloth with gilt titling and decoration. Pink top-stain slightly faded with some mild toning and spotting to the text-block. Free from inscriptions. The scarce WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good- condition. A little loss at the spine ends and corners. Some closed tears to the spine and flap folds. A little spotting in places. Some splitting of the flap folds with a little loss in places to the rear flap fold and lower rear edge (see images). The Duncan Grant wrapper artwork presents very well in the removable Brodart archival wrapper. An important work of mid 20th century lesbian literature. Published anonymously, this has since been revealed as the only novel of Dorothy Bussy (Nee Strachey), a member of the Bloomsbury group and the sister of the writer and critic Lytton Strachey. Viewed as scandalous upon initial publication, and set in the late 19th century at a finishing school in France. The work is dedicated to Bussy's friend, Virginia Woolf. It went into multiple reprints in the first year of publication. Dorothy was involved in an affair with Lady Ottoline Morrell and was also a close friend of the French Nobel Laureate Andre Gide, and translated all his works into English. A very scarce title in any collectible condition. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.