The Soldier and the Gentlewoman

London: Gollancz, 1932 . First edition. Cloth. Very Good Indeed/Good. 8" by 6". None. A signed presentation copy of the first edition of this thrilling novel by Welsh novelist Hilda Vaughan, presented to literary editor Edward Garnett. The first edition, first impression of this work, in the publisher's original price unclipped dust wrapper.Flat signed by the author to the title page.Inscribed by the author 'Edward Garnett, with the gratitude and homage of the writer, May 1932' to the front free endpaper. Garnett was English writer, critic and literary editor, who was instrumental in the publication of D. H. Lawrence's 'Sons and Lovers', although he rejected publishing Joyce's 'A Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man' in 1915. He was married to Constance Garnett, the famed translator of nineteenth century Russian literature.Loosely inserted is a letter from Garnett, dated November 1936, only three months before his death. In his letter, Garnett discusses 'Harvest Home', a novel by Vaughan published in 1936, which he describes as his favourite 'of your books I have read'.This thrilling first edition from Welsh novelist and short story writer Hilda Vaughan presents a tale in which a 'woman of breeding' murders her husband, in a work the publisher claims 'has the power and terrible veracity of a document of the soul'. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with price unclipped dust wrapper. Bumping to back strip head, otherwise externally excellent. Inscription to front free endpaper. Discolouration to dust wrapper back strip, with wrap perimeters age toned. Significant loss to head of front wrap. Minor loss to back strip tail, with significant chipping to back strip head. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Very Good Indeed