WE ARE FIRES UNQUENCHABLE
Rare first edition of this erotic lesbian novel set in a rural US town – inscribed by the author to her parents.
Very good plus.
Price: $1,200.00
WE ARE FIRES UNQUENCHABLE
Steven Dillon identifies WE ARE FIRES as the "species of sex novel" that "sets its erotica into an interesting scientific framework" — in this case with an introduction by (the likely fictional) "H. K. Bonaparta, Ph.C." Dillon speculates that the introduction may have been included to "ward off the pornography police since the publishers [...] are not otherwise dirty book peddlers" (126), though this cataloguer is uncertain of how much legitimacy is conveyed by a doctoral candidate. All of this makes it all the more surprising that Mary Speers inscribed this copy to "dear Mother & Dad"; one wonders if this note carries a touch of antagonism, or if her parents did, in fact, support her unconventional writing career.
The book was also apparently the subject of an obscenity lawsuit against the publisher (likely Marcel Rodd), which may help explain why WE ARE FIRES UNQUENCHABLE has "almost entirely vanished from surveys of queer literature" (ibid) and is quite scarce in institutional collections. OCLC locates just three holdings. A rich canvas for academic analysis, difficult to obtain, and especially desirable with such an intimate association.
Read more: Steven Dillon, Wolf-Women and Phantom Ladies; Barbara Grier, The Lesbian in Literature, 144.
The Object
Hollywood: Murray & Gee, 1942. 8'' x 5.25''. Original blue cloth binding with gilt spine lettering. 366 pages. Inscribed by Speers to front flyleaf "To dear Mother & Dad," dated April 18 1942. No dust jacket. Mild bumping to corners and spine ends, a bit of sunning to spine; with a very slight lean. Leaves with one or two spots of marginal soil. Sound and bright.
The Fine Print
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.
