DAN RUSSEL THE FOX

Somerville, E. OE. and Martin Ross

Published by Methuen & Co. Ltd, London, England, 1911

12mo, 5.25 x 7.6 in., pp. 340 + 29 (advertising). Light brown cloth boards with floating white feathers and black title to cover. Gilt title and white feathers to spine. All edges untrimmed. Rubbing to extremities. Smudging to boards. Spotting to edges. Two previous owner's names to front free endpaper. Front hinge a bit loose, but holding. Edith Anna none Somerville (2 May 1858 8 October 1949) was anIrish novelistwho habitually signed herself as "E. . Somerville". The eldest of eight children, Somerville grew up in Drishane, Castletownshend,County Cork, She is said to have dominated her sister and brothers in a family where women were encouraged to be bold. She received her primary education at home, and then attendedAlexandra CollegeinDublin. In 1884, she went toParisfor the first of several trips to study art at theAcadémie ColarossiandAcadémie Delécluse, and then spent a term at theWestminster School of ArtinDean's Yard, Westminster. At home, riding and painting were her absorbing interests. In January 1886, she met her cousin Violet Martin, and their literary partnership began the following year.In 1898 Edith Somerville went to paint at theEtaples art colony, accompanied by Violet. There they profited from their stay by conceiving together the stories later gathered inSome Experiences of an Irish R. M., completed the following year.By the time Violet died in 1915, they had published fourteen books together. Her cousin's death stunned Edith, who continued to write as "Somerville and Ross", claiming that they kept in contact through spiritualistséances. The precise nature of their relationship whether they were romantic and sexual partners as well as literary collaborators and friends has been the object of speculation by later writers. Somerville was a devoted sportswoman who, in 1903, had become master of theWest CarberyFoxhounds. She was also active in thesuffragistmovement. She had exhibitions of her pictures in Dublin and in London between 1920 and 1938, and was active as an illustrator of sporting picture books and children's picture books. She died at Castletownshend in October 1949, aged 91, and is buried alongside Violet Florence Martin at Saint Barrahane's Church, Castletownsend. Seller Inventory # 85732

Bibliographic Details

Title: DAN RUSSEL THE FOX
Publisher: Methuen & Co. Ltd, London, England
Publication Date: 1911
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Good Only
Edition: First Edition.