Rare Treasure Editions

''Back Street,'' a best-selling romance novel by Fannie Hurst, was originally published as a serial in Cosmopolitan under the title Grand Passion before its 1931 novel release. It remains a definitive "woman's picture" of its era, exploring themes of devotion, sacrifice, and the social stigma of adultery. The story follows Ray Schmidt, a selfless young woman who falls deeply in love with Walter Saxel, a wealthy man. Due to a series of fateful missed connections and social pressures, Walter marries another woman, but Ray remains his devoted secret mistress for over 30 years. Ray lives in the "back streets" of Walter's life, staying hidden from his family and society while depending on him financially. Ray gives up her own career, social standing, and the chance for children to remain available for Walter's brief visits. The novel highlights the contrast between the "respectable" public life Walter maintains and the isolated, often impoverished reality Ray faces, especially toward the end of her life.

Eugene O'Neill's "Mourning Becomes Electra" (1931) is a modernized retelling of Aeschylus's ancient Greek tragedy, exploring psychological conflict in themes of revenge and family betrayal at a New England seaport in 1865, immediately following the American Civil War. It is widely considered one of O'Neill's masterpieces, contributing significantly to his 1936 Nobel Prize in Literature.

''Return to the Islands'' by Sir Arthur Grimble serves as the sequel to his bestseller, A Pattern of Islands. It recounts his return to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (modern-day Kiribati and Tuvalu) during the early 20th century to continue his work as a British colonial administrator. Unlike his first book, Grimble returns to the islands alone, without his family. He details his increased responsibilities as a Resident Commissioner and Magistrate, including handling riots between Gilbertese and Chinese labourers on Banaba (Ocean Island) and performing single-handed arrests. Having learned the Gilbertese language, Grimble provides deep insights into the myths, oral traditions, and "pagan ways" of the islanders. He specifically describes the composition of oral poems as a "divine spark of inspiration". The narrative highlights his enduring friendship with the local people, including his "adopted daughter," Movement of Clouds, who instructs him in traditional etiquette. Reviewers describe the work as "magical" and "beautifully written," capturing a "vanished world" with humor and self-deprecation. It explores the "guest mat" stories of the locals, touching on their beliefs, social tragedies like the outlawing of polygamy, and legends like the "curse of Nakaa". The book remains a classic of South Seas literature for its empathetic portrayal of Pacific islanders.

''The Lively Lady'' by Kenneth Roberts was first published in 1931. Set during the War of 1812, the story follows Richard Nason, a sea captain from Arundel, Maine, who becomes a privateer after being pressed into service by the British. The narrative captures the high-stakes world of maritime combat and the courage of American privateersmen. After being captured by the British, Richard and his crew are sent to the infamous Dartmoor Prison in England. A major portion of the book details the brutal conditions and the suffering of American POWs, including a historical massacre of prisoners that occurred after the war officially ended. Richard becomes enamoured with Lady Emily Ransome, the young wife of an older British landowner, adding a layer of romantic drama to the seafaring adventure.

''Trent Intervenes'' by E. C. Bentley is a classic collection of twelve short detective stories featuring the urbane amateur sleuth Philip Trent, an artist and journalist who unravels complex crimes ranging from fraud to murder, showcasing his clever deduction, often with witty observations on society and class, making it a beloved Golden Age mystery novel. The stories blend classic mystery with social commentary, featuring intricate plots, "impossible" crimes, and sometimes darker undertones of class resentment or human frailty. A significant work in detective fiction, praised for its cleverness and engaging prose, often compared to Agatha Christie's style but with Bentley's unique touch.

''Two People'' by A. A. Milne (died 1956) was first published in 1931, entering public domain status worldwide. It was considered by the author and the publisher to be his first true attempt at a serious novel, a story exploring the relationship of a married couple and focusing on the quiet, rural life of Reginald Wellard, who achieves unexpected literary success. The story examines the evolving, sometimes distant relationship between Reginald and his younger wife, Sylvia, exploring themes of marriage, success, and personal change.

''Slightly Out of Focus'' is the legendary 1947 World War II memoir and written by the famous Hungarian photojournalist Robert Capa. The book provides a gripping, witty, and deeply moving firsthand account of his frontline experiences covering the European theater between 1942 and 1945. The phrase "slightly out of focus" originates from a notorious darkroom accident. On D-Day (June 6, 1944), Capa landed with the first wave of American troops at Omaha Beach. He risked his life to shoot roughly 106 images. When the film arrived at the Life magazine darkroom in London, a panicked lab assistant used too much heat while drying the negatives, melting the emulsion and destroying most of the frames. When Life published the surviving shot, they famously captioned it as being "slightly out of focus" due to shaking hands from the intensity of combat. Capa, knowing the blur was actually caused by the lab error, adopted the phrase as a self-deprecating badge of honor and the title for his autobiography.

F.O. Matthiessen's ''American Renaissance: Art and Expression in the Age of Emerson and Whitman'' is a seminal and important work of literary criticism. It analyzes the explosive cultural output of 1850-1855, focusing on how Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, and Walt Whitman shaped a distinct American literature. The study highlights how these five writers, operating in a shared cultural context, sought to create a democratic art form that addressed the function of literature and nature. Although the authors did not work together, Matthiessen focused on the 1850s-specifically the publication of works like The Scarlet Letter, Moby-Dick, and Leaves of Grass-as the high point of 19th-century American literary achievement. The text explores the writers' views on language, art, and the extent to which their ideals were realized in their work. It is considered the definitive treatment of this era and instrumental in establishing the American literary canon.

''The Deepening Stream,'' published in 1930, is a semi-autobiographical novel by Dorothy Canfield Fisher widely regarded as her masterpiece and a significant, though often overlooked, work of World War I literature. The story follows the life of Penelope "Matey" Gilbert from her childhood into adulthood. Matey grows up in a household overshadowed by her parents' subtle but constant emotional conflict. Her family frequently moves between American academic towns and France. After her father's death, Matey moves to Rustdorf, New York, where she eventually marries Adrian Fort, a man who shares her deep love for France. When war breaks out, the couple makes the daring choice to move their young family to Paris to assist their French friends, the Vinets, and provide relief work for soldiers. The novel concludes with the family's return to America, finding a hard-won sense of peace after the exhaustion and trauma of the war.

Frederic Manning is acknowledged as arguably the finest novelist of the Western Front. Born in Australia, novelist and poet Frederic Manning enlisted during 1915 into the Shropshire Light Infantry, and served in France during 1916 as `Private 19022'. The Shropshires saw heavy fighting on the Somme, and Manning's four months there provided the background to ''Her Privates We.'' An undisputed classic of war writing and a lasting tribute to all who participated in the war to end all wars.

''Shooting an Elephant and Other Essays'' showcases Orwell's premier talents as a cultural critic, political commentator, and master of the modern English essay. Rich collection of 24 essays. Key Essays include: "Shooting an Elephant": A regular feature in anthologies detailing Orwell's time as a colonial police officer in Burma. It serves as a profound metaphor highlighting how imperialism compromises the freedom of both the oppressor and the oppressed. "A Hanging": A raw, minimalist description of an execution in Burma that serves as a quiet but piercing critique of capital punishment. "Politics and the English Language": A legendary critique of political discourse. Orwell argues that vague, inflated language is deliberately used to defend the indefensible and muddy political truths. "Such, Such Were the Joys": A lengthy autobiographical essay reflecting on the psychological cruelty, class snobbery, and hardships Orwell endured during his English preparatory school days.

''Unwanted Corpse'' involves Merrion working alongside Scotland Yard's Inspector Arnold to solve a crime involving a body. The plot sets off with a sudden, mysterious death in the English countryside, leaving the local authorities with a literal "unwanted corpse" that disrupts the peace of a small community. Inspector Arnold of Scotland Yard handles the official, methodical police tracking and paperwork. Desmond Merrion, an analytical amateur investigator, works alongside Arnold to spot the subtle, unconventional clues the police overlook. True to Miles Burton's style, the book functions as a slow-burn, puzzle-driven procedural. The duo carefully deconstructs alibis and motives until they uncover a clever criminal scheme.

Something to Hide (1953) by Miles Burton (John Rhode) is a classic British mystery novel featuring his long-running investigators, Desmond Merrion and Inspector Arnold. The story revolves around a complex, methodical investigation into a murder, involving clues found in a quiet rural setting. The narrative centers on the unraveling of a seemingly accidental death, which Merrion diagnoses as a murder.

Ben Ames Williams' most successful and popular novel was ''Leave Her to Heaven,'' published in 1944. It was a massive bestseller that was later adapted into a classic 1945 film noir of the same name. A psychological thriller, the story follows Ellen Berent, a socialite whose intense, jealous, and obsessive love for her novelist husband, Richard Harland, threatens to lead to fatal consequences. The novel (often told in flashback) explores a "fatal attraction" scenario where Ellen's radiant beauty hides a dangerous, possessive, and murderous nature that might ruin the lives of those around her, including her husband and his brother. An unforgettable exploration of obsessive love.

''Inside Benchley'' is the celebrated anthology of humorous essays by American writer Robert Benchley first published in 1942. The collection is particularly notable for being illustrated by the artist Gluyas Williams, whose drawings were long considered the perfect visual counterpart to Benchley's wit. The book serves as a "best-of" compilation, featuring around 50 of Benchley's funniest pieces originally written for publications like The New Yorker and Vanity Fair. The essays typically center on Benchley's "little man" persona-a well-meaning but perpetually bewildered suburban citizen struggling with the minor absurdities of modern life, such as annoying relatives, office politics, and social faux pas.

''The Best of Robert Benchley'' showcases the rapier-sharp wit and absurdist humor of one of the 20th century's most influential American humorists, serving as a definitive introduction to the man who was the cornerstone of the Algonquin Round Table, an influential, witty group of New York City writers, critics, and actors-including Dorothy Parker and Robert Benchley himself-who met daily for lunch at the Algonquin Hotel and were known as "The Vicious Circle." Robert Benchley more than all the others was famous for his sharp wisecracks, wordplay, and significant impact on American literature and journalism.

Richard Goulbourn, a humble clerk, comes into a fortune that enables him to start courting the beautiful and rich Moira. He and his sister move into the house next to the black house in Harley Street where Moira lives with her uncle, Dr. van Mildert, her uncle's assistant, Miss Lamotte, and some very sinister servants. But there are undercurrents of evil. Soon the young people find themselves embroiled with an evil mastermind. Kidnappings, ransoms, stolen diamonds, a booby-trapped house, hypnotism, escapees from Sing-Sing... all the elements for a ripping good mystery are present!

''The Death That Lurks Unseen'' is Fletcher's early masterpiece in the mystery and crime fiction genre. At this stage in his career, Fletcher was blending his journalistic precision with a flair for atmospheric, psychological narrative, featuring enigmatic protagonists and exploring dark human impulses, hidden truths, and moral ambiguity. Notable characters in this tale include a "strange creature"-a gaunt, middle-aged man with fierce eyes and a long black beard-who is desperately searching for something he lost. The reader gets a sense from reading ''The Death That Lurks Unseen'' that it is one of J. S. Fletcher's best mystery thrillers-so tightly written, not overly long, yet it feels complete and satisfying.

While the title might sound unusual to modern ears, in the context of the 1940s, "period stuff" referred to stories about historical or bygone eras-the "interwar" and early WWII periods in which Yates specialized. The stories here were written around 1939 and published in magazines like The Windsor Magazine and The Strand before being compiled into a book in 1942. This collection wonderfully blends the two styles Yates was famous for: the lighthearted, witty "Berry" family humor and his more intense "Chandos" thrillers.

''Shoal Water'' (1940) is a thriller by British author Dornford Yates and belongs to the author's collection of "adventure thrillers," often categorized alongside the Chandos series, though it features a different primary narrator. The story is narrated by Jeremy Solon, a young man who falls in love with Katharine Scrope (also known as "Formosa"). Katharine has been blackmailed into serving as a courier for a jewel-thieving gang led by a villain known as "The Shepherd". When Solon becomes a target after identifying the gang's leader, Katharine is kidnapped. To rescue her, Solon joins forces with his friend George Laking and Yates's recurring hero, Jonathan Mansel. The action takes place across France, notably featuring a pivotal location called "The Wet Flag" and the waterfront of Rouen off the English channel.

This fabulous comedy of manners is about the residents of Durham Square, which is a respectable if not totally fashionable London address. We see their snobberies, their quarrels and reconciliations, and we discover that one of the residents of the square has been writing hugely popular romantic trash under the name of Rudolph da Vinci. There's a memorable cast of strong-willed women, an eccentric Vicar, an admirable butler, and some Pekinese dogs. This novel is laugh-out-loud funny! - Susannah Fullerton, The International Heyer Society

''Situation Vacant'' by Miles Burton (John Rhode) is a 1946 detective novel about a series of mysterious deaths in an English village, revolving around two secretaries to the same woman at a manor house, with Inspector Arnold and sleuth Desmond Merrion uncovering a cleverly poisoned plot after the local police rule the first death accidental and the second suspicious. The story features typical Burton elements like rural settings, red herrings, and wry humor, focusing on a unique poison and a well-hidden culprit.

''The Saracen Blade'' is the very memorable historical adventure novel by Frank Yerby that follows the life of Pietro di Donati, a 13th-century Sicilian peasant. Pietro rises from his humble origins to become a powerful nobleman. The story begins with Pietro seeking revenge against the Siniscola family for the murder of his father during a peasant revolt. Pietro's adventures span across medieval Europe and the Middle East, with backdrops that include the Albigensian Crusade and the Children's Crusade. He experiences jousting, warfare, and even slavery before eventually becoming a baron. True to Yerby's formula, the protagonist is torn between two women: the high-born and disdainful Elaineand the more serene and devoted Iolanthe. While primarily an adventure, the book explores themes of faith and challenges medieval (and by extension, modern) social constructs like class and race.

''Roosevelt and Hopkins: An Intimate History'' is a landmark biography by Robert E. Sherwood that chronicles the unique partnership between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his closest advisor, Harry Hopkins. The book won the1949 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography and the 1949 Bancroft Prize. Sherwood, a successful playwright and FDR's own speechwriter, wrote the account at the request of the Hopkins family following Harry's death in 1946. Spanning over 900 pages, it provides a "front-row seat" to the inner workings of the White House and global diplomacy during World War II. The narrative is heavily built on Hopkins's personal papers, letters, and memos, making it a critical primary-source history of the era.

When this book was first published in 1940, one critic claimed that "adjectives pale before the superb drive and force of Oliver Wiswell." In the novel Kenneth Roberts portrays a very different side to the story of the American Revolution, that of the loyalists (colonists who supported the British monarchy). Spanning the years from 1775 to 1783, ''Oliver Wiswell'' traces the adventures of a Yale student who is deeply loyal to the established government of the colonies. This wonderfully far-ranging novel is packed with battles, sudden flights, escapes, intrigue, massacres, romance and exile as it follows Wiswell, a spy for Sir William Howe (Commander in Chief of the British Armies) on Long Island, as well as in Paris and London. He captures a sloop single-handedly and joins Benedict Arnold against the American revolutionaries of the southern colonies. Oliver Wiswell did no less than challenge the accepted perceptions of the loyalists. Though branded by history as cowardly traitors, many of them were men of strong convictions and fierce courage, sometimes defeating triple their number of Continental troops and militiamen in battle. With strong historical detail and vivid depictions, Roberts explores the hearts and minds of those men and women who opposed the Revolution.

The true story of the amazing Henry Gross - the man with uncanny extrasensory power! ''Henry Gross and His Dowsing Rod'' (1951) by Kenneth Roberts documents the alleged water-dowsing abilities of Henry Gross, a Maine game warden. Roberts claims Gross used a Y-shaped stick to locate underground water. Henry Gross (1895-1979) was a, Maine-based game warden known for his reputation for finding underground water streams, or "water veins," using a dowsing rod. Kenneth Roberts, a successful historical novelist, was a firm believer in Gross and documented his experiences to promote the validity of dowsing. While the book highlights successes, some sceptics and studies argue that dowsing is a form of ideomotor action-subconscious movements-rather than a scientific detection method. The book remains a famous piece of literature in the field of paranormal or quasi-scientific literature. It is recognized as a work detailing a "phenomenal" dowser's exploits. "Kenneth Roberts is an accurate reporter. His veracity cannot be questioned!" --THE NEW YORK TIMES

First published in 1910 by North Carolina minister and professor Arthur Talmage Abernethy, ''The Jew a Negro'' is a controversial historical work that argues ancient Jewish people shared significant ancestry with African populations. Abernethy utilized what he termed "ethnology" and "Scriptural proofs" to support several central claims. He argued that ancient Jews mixed thoroughly with neighbouring African peoples, specifically noting that there was little racial difference between Jewish and "Negro" types in antiquity. The book posits that as Jewish populations migrated to more temperate climates, their skin lightened over time, though their "essential racial similarity" remained unchanged. Abernethy claimed modern Jews of his era still exhibit "habits, physical peculiarities, and tendencies" essentially similar to Black people.

First published in Collier's magazine in 1930, ''Big Money'' is a classic comic novel by P. G. Wodehouse. The story is a "fizzy" standalone comedy-meaning it does not belong to the Jeeves or Blandings series-revolving around the financial and romantic misadventures of two old school friends in London and the suburb of Valley Fields. The plot centers on the pursuit of "big money" and the efforts of two young men to marry the women they love despite their empty pockets.

''Brother Man'' (1954) by Jamaican author Roger Mais (died 1955), is the author's best-known work. Set in "The Lane" in the slums, the story follows John Power, known as Brother Man. An honest cobbler and healer, John Power lives a peaceful life according to his faith, eventually being viewed as a prophet or Christ-like figure by the community. Papacita, a violent local enforcer, grows jealous of Brother Man's influence and his relationship with Minette, a young woman Brother Man rescued from the streets. The narrative functions as a modern allegory of Christ, depicting Brother Man's rise as a healer, his eventual betrayal by those he helped, and his symbolic "crucifixion" and persecution by the community. The novel often delves into the psychological and social pressures of Jamaican urban life, functioning as a compassionate look at the dispossessed.

''Northwest Passage'' is widely considered a benchmark of the historical adventure genre for its meticulous research and vivid portrayal of colonial America during the mid-18th century. The story is told through the eyes of Langdon Towne, a young artist and Harvard student who flees trouble in New Hampshire to join the army. The novel is structurally divided into two distinct parts: Part 1: Follows the legendary Major Robert Rogers and his "Rogers' Rangers" on a harrowing expedition against the Abenaki village of St. Francis in Canada. This section focuses on military strategy, extreme survival, and the brutal reality of frontier warfare. Part 2: Tracks Rogers' later years as he seeks backing for an overland expedition to find the fabled Northwest Passage to the Pacific. This half explores his time in London, his appointment as governor of Michilimackinac, and what might threaten to be his eventual personal and political downfall.

''The Chief Witness'' is a classic Golden Age British mystery by Herbert Adams, originally published in 1940. It features the amateur detective and golf enthusiast Roger Bennion. The story begins with a bizarre and macabre coincidence: two brothers-one a successful accountant and the other a prominent solicitor-appear to commit suicide at the exact same moment, despite living miles apart. In both cases, a timepiece is found broken to mark the time of death. Roger Bennion, working alongside Inspector Goff, quickly deduces that the deaths were actually a double murder staged to look like a suicide pact. As the investigation unfolds, a nephew of one of the victims becomes the primary suspect, and Bennion must race to prove his innocence while navigating a web of fraud, hidden motives, and a high-profile murder trial.

''The Foxes of Harrow'' chronicles the rise and fall of Stephen Fox, an audacious Irish gambler in mid-19th-century Louisiana. Arriving in New Orleans in 1825 with almost nothing, Fox uses his skills as a card shark to amass a fortune, eventually building Harrow, one of the state's most magnificent slave plantations. Stephen Fox, an illegitimate son of a noble Irish family, manipulates his way into New Orleans' high society. He wins his initial wealth through gambling and eventually marries Odalie Arceneaux, a cold, aristocratic Creole woman, to secure his social standing. The story follows the "tumult and heartbreak" of Stephen's personal life, including his complex relationships with three women: his wife Odalie, her sister Aurore, and his Black mistress Desiree. Spanning from 1825 to the end of the Civil War, the novel depicts the gradual decay of the Fox family's empire as the social order of the antebellum South collapses under the weight of the war and the abolition of slavery. It sold millions of copies upon its release in 1946 and has often been compared to "Gone With the Wind."