Pseudonym Michael Harrison (4 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. The Bride of Frankenstein (Sequel to Frankenstein), Egremont Michael (Maurice Desmond Rohan; Pseudonym Michael Harrison). Published by Bookfinger, New York, 1976. Introduction by George Locke. (i-v)., 252pp. with half title, title, publisher, table of contents. Reprint of the 1936 original Queensway Press Edition of The Readers Library Publishing Company of London. Issued without a dustjacket. Black boards with gilt spine titles. In fine, unread condition with a tiny dust mark lower outer edge and a tiny crease at head of spine. The novel was based on the James Whale film "The Bride of Frankenstein" (1935) starring Elsa Lanchester and Boris Karloff. After the movie was completed, Michael Harrison was commissioned to produce a novel from the original film script. Given only three weeks to produce a finished work, Harrison (Egremont) ultimately abandoned the script and produced what "was to all intents and purposes original fiction." Michael Egremont was a one time only pen name for UK detective and fantasy author Maurice Desmond Rohan (1907-1991) who regularly used the pen name Michael Harrison. Under the pen name Michael Harrison, he published seventeen novels between 1934 and 1954. He wrote pastiches of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and Poe's C. Auguste Dupin and was a noted Sherlock Holmes scholar.

Hardcover. Re-issue. 252pp. Duodecimo [19 cm] Black cloth over boards with the title in gilt on the spine. Gently bumped at the spine ends and the very tips of the corners of the covers, else near fine. No dust jacket, as issued. Novel based on the James Whale film "The Bride of Frankenstein" (1935) starring Elsa Lanchester and Boris Karloff. From the Introduction- "One of the most famous of all pre-war horror movies was FRANKENSTEIN, based on Mary Shelley's famous novel and featuring Boris Karloff as the unhappy monster. "A considerable amount of trouble and expense had been involved in the preparation of the sets. After the movie had been completed, it was natural that the producers should want to make further use of them. As a result, a sequel, THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, was duly made and lurched its way across the silver screens. "It was the custom at that time to announce a movie as being based upon the appropriate book, and promote it accordingly. When THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN was finished, it was realised with some concern that there was no such book. Mary Shelley's original work could not be credited for the sequel, so it was decided that an original novel would have to be prepared, and as a matter of considerable urgency.".

First edition. Octavo, pp. [1-8] 9-252 [253-256] [note: first two and last two leaves are blank and are used as front and rear paste-downs and flyleaves], original blue-gray cloth, spine panel stamped in black. One of two binding states (the other is black cloth stamped in green), priority, if any, not known. Copies with the Queensway Press imprint were intended for the library market and were sold for 2/6, while the simultaneous cheaper issue with the Readers Library imprint were sold in Woolworth's for 6d. Novel based on the James Whale film "The Bride of Frankenstein" (1935) starring Elsa Lanchester and Boris Karloff. From George Locke's introduction to the American edition published by Bookfinger, he provides the following information: After the movie was completed it was realized that no book existed for a tie-in. The Hutchinson (U.K.) publishing group which owned the Readers Library imprint commissioned author Michael Harrison to produce a novel. Mr. Harrison was given three weeks to produce a finished work. Harrison started working from a shooting script for the film which contained not only the dialog but the shooting details also. After getting bogged down following the script and working under deadline Harrison decided to ignore the script (but not the story). ".the remaining work represented so radical a departure from the script that the finished book was to all intents and purposes original fiction." Harrison took his pseudonym from a public house, "The Egremont Arms." [Reference: Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, p. 77. Sullivan (ed), The Penguin Encyclopedia of Horror and the Supernatural, pp. 53-4. Bleiler (1978), p. 68. Reginald 04717]. Inked name to front free end paper, foxing to page edges and throughout, hinges starting, some stains to covers, spine leaned and darkened, a good copy. (30905).

First edition. Small octavo, pp. [1-6] 7-252 [253-256] [note: first and last leaves used as front and rear paste-downs], original decorated blue-green boards, spine and front cover stamped in gold. Copies bound in cloth with the Queensway Press imprint were intended for the library market while this simultaneous cheaper issue with the Readers Library imprint were sold in Woolworth's for 6d. Novel based on the James Whale film "The Bride of Frankenstein" (1935) starring Elsa Lanchester and Boris Karloff. From George Locke's introduction to the American edition from Bookfinger, he provides the following information: After the movie was completed it was realized that no book existed for a tie-in. The Hutchinson (U. K.) publishing group which owned the Readers Library imprint commissioned author Michael Harrison to produce a novel. Mr. Harrison was given three weeks to produce a finished work. Harrison started working from a shooting script for the film which contained not only the dialog but the shooting details also. After getting bogged down following the script and working under deadline Harrison decided to ignore the script (but not the story). ".the remaining work represented so radical a departure from the script that the finished book was to all intents and purposes original fiction." Harrison took his pseudonym from a public house, "The Egremont Arms." [Reference: Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, p. 77. Sullivan (ed), The Penguin Encyclopedia of Horror and the Supernatural, pp. 53-4. Bleiler (1978), p. 68. Reginald 04717]. Cheap text paper age darkened, professional repair to exterior rear hinge and tears to spine ends, a good to very good copy. (25448).