GROWTH OF THE SOIL (First edition in English - third impression - scarce in the original unrestored cloth)

A third impression of the first UK edition, which was the first edition in English, published in June, 1921. The book was first published in this translation in April, 1920 (the first printing is undated in the book), and reprinted in September, 1920 in a second impression. Translated from the Norwegian by W. Worster, M.A. (uncredited in the first printing). The book was originally published in Norwegian as "Markens Grøde" in 1917. ***Very good in green cloth-covered boards with black titles on the spine and front board. The boards are generally clean, but do have inevitable rubbing and marks commensurate with age and handling over the years. The vulnerable cloth at the head of the spine is slightly creased and frayed but not torn, but there is a small tear to the cloth at the bottom edge of the back board (please see scans). No serious bumps or creases. Corners slightly rubbed and worn. No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Page block edges quite clean, just lightly foxed. Internally, the book is also very good, with a period ownership name on the front free endpaper, and a St. John and Red Cross Hospital Library label on the front pastedown. There is some foxing to the first and last few pages, but interior pages clean. Small tear off the bottom corner of p.75/6, not affecting the text. There is some splitting at the gutter of the rear endpaper (please see scans). ***190mm x 130mm. 406 pages. ***'Knut Hamsun (4 Aug 1859 - 19 Feb 1952) was a Norwegian writer who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. Hamsun's work spans more than 70 years and shows variation with regard to consciousness, subject, perspective and environment. He published more than 23 novels, a collection of poetry, some short stories and plays, a travelogue, works of non-fiction and some essays. Hamsun is considered to be "one of the most influential and innovative literary stylists of the past hundred years" (ca. 1890-1990). He pioneered psychological literature with techniques of stream of consciousness and interior monologue, and influenced authors such as Thomas Mann, Franz Kafka, Maxim Gorky, Stefan Zweig, Henry Miller, Hermann Hesse, John Fante, James Kelman, Charles Bukowski and Ernest Hemingway. Isaac Bashevis Singer called Hamsun "the father of the modern school of literature in his every aspect - his subjectiveness, his fragmentariness, his use of flashbacks, his lyricism. The whole modern school of fiction in the twentieth century stems from Hamsun"'. Hamsun had strong anglophobic views, in part due to the treatment of Norway during World War I, and openly supported Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany, travelling to meet Hitler during the German occupation of Norway. Due to his professed support for the occupation of Norway and the Quisling regime, he was charged with treason after the war. He was not convicted, officially due to psychological problems and issues relating to old age, but was issued a heavy fine in 1948. (Wiki) ***'Third impression of the first edition in English of one of Knut Hamsun's first works to be translated into English. "One of the very greatest novels I have ever read - H. G. Wells. "The Growth of the Soil" is the novel by Norwegian writer Knut Hamsun that would win him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. It was the Nobel Committee that would describe "The Growth of the Soil" as such; "a classic, but in a deeper and more profound sense than usual. Hamsun has given to our times a classic that can be measured against the best we already have."' ***An extremely fragile book, and very few copies of these early impressions have survived the last 100+ years. Scarce and desirable. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc. …