inscribed by the author

A futuristic war novel and the second of Shiel's 'yellow peril' titles, lengthily inscribed by the author to the front free endpaper discussing its inspiration and reception: 'The fact that God has a predilection for pigtails and microbes (to judge from their number) has always struck me, and there seemed to me such a picture in their overflowing with a stare into the West... But "the readers" seemed to prefer the first work to the second better - pigs as regard tales! M.P. Shiel. 1924'.

First edition, inscribed by the author; 8vo; bookplate to front pastedown, 8pp. advertisements dated 1913 at rear, light browning to endpapers, slight surface abrasion to front pastedown; original pictorial cloth, spine a little darkened, spine ends and corners a little bumped, some light rubbing and marking; preserved in custom orange chemise and matching morocco-backed slipcase.