A superb copy of the author's first collection of spooky and macabre stories, 'generally taken to mark the beginning of the modern era of supernatural fiction. In the opinion of many the foremost modern writer of supernatural fiction' (Bleiler, The Guide to Supernatural Fiction, p279).

'Let us, then, be introduced to the actors in a placid way', wrote James in 1924: '...let us see them going about their ordinary business, undisturbed by forebodings...and into this calm environment let the ominous thing put out its head, unobtrusively at first, and then more insistently, until it holds the stage.' Like Lewis Carroll and Tolkien, James viewed fiction as an essential diversion from the mundane necessities of work and study, consequently many of his stories originated as tales to be read by candlelight to fellow dons and senior pupils at Cambridge.

Increasingly scarce, especially in such good order.

First edition; 8vo; frontispiece and 3 plates by James McBride, without advertisements, some very light scattered spotting, very light browning to endpapers, armorial bookplate to front pastedown, bookplate to front free endpaper; publisher's buckram, titles to spine and upper cover in black, ruled in red, yapp edges, very light toning and a faint splash mark to spine; a very good example.

Currey p.261; Lovecraft (Supernatural Horror in Literature), pp.100-105; Tymn 3-125.