First edition of this high society contemporary romance from the Edwardian golden age of the genre, "daringly, about the problems of Jews entering London society" (Rachel Anderson).
Very good plus to near fine.
Price: $350.00
"Winnie's face under the cherry-blossom tree suddenly caught him as something deathless, as eternity itself"
Margaret Baillie-Saunders was one of the major romance writers who set the tone for the glamorous high society novels of the Edwardian era, filled with sophisticated characters moving gracefully between ballrooms, operas, and fashionable restaurants. In this setting, Baillie-Saunders introduces a Jewish man whose gentlemanly charisma draws the heroine, an English woman "from a hard-up but very old family." Baillie-Saunders was not herself Jewish, and her execution of this interracial romance is at times problematic: euphemisms, casual cruelties, and physical descriptions betray unconscious biases throughout. Yet unlike the prevailing stereotype of overbearing, hypermasculine heroes more typical in 20th century romances, the hero in this book is sensitive, poetic, observant, and attentive. Where many English authors would have used his "non-English" background as the source of his flaws, Baillie-Saunders suggests that these qualities are a barrier only because of the heroine's prejudices, which she must learn to overcome to obtain her happy ending. The heroine transforms over the course of the novel from a shallow charmer into a steady, responsible woman, with the conflicts of the romance partly driving this process of self-actualization. In that way, it reads like an alternative ending to Edith Wharton's HOUSE OF MIRTH, with the Lily Bart character instead releasing her pride to achieve a happy ending.
Read more: Rachel Anderson, The Purple Heart Throbs, 115.
London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1906. Octavo, 7.25'' x 4.75''. Original purple cloth stamped in gilt. Top edge gilt. [4], 424 pages. Touch of sunning to spine, moderate foxing to text block edges, else clean and well preserved.
We work hard to meet our ethical responsibility to describe our material accurately. All items are guaranteed as described and may be returned for any reason within 30 days. Please notify us before mailing a return.
We guarantee the authenticity of our items. All materials are original (meaning not facsimiles or reproductions) unless otherwise noted. First editions (meaning first edition, first printing) are explicitly stated. TPM is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America and upholds their Code of Ethics.
All photographs are of the actual item for sale. We're happy to provide additional images on request.
All domestic orders ship gratis. For orders under $250, free USPS media mail shipping is included; orders $250 and over ship USPS Priority. International orders over $500 also ship gratis. Expedited, overnight, as well as other carriers (UPS, Fed-Ex, etc.), may carry additional costs beyond quoted rates. All orders receive tracking information and a direct contact in case of any questions.
International buyers are responsible for any customs, taxes, and related import fees. Please note that we are unable to accomodate requests to misrepresent, misdeclare, or otherwise falsify customs documents when shipping internationally. We appreciate your understanding.
We accept all major credit cards, Paypal, Venmo, check, money order, and bank wire. We are happy to bill institutional buyers' needs. Sales tax will be added to applicable purchases. Items subject to prior sale.
If for any reason you are dissatisfied with your purchase, please contact us. We prioritize our long-term relationships far above any individual purchase, and we want you to love your item as much as we loved cataloguing it.
Type Punch Matrix is a rare book firm founded by Rebecca Romney and Brian Cassidy.
Read more about TPM.
