Cat and Mouse

Brand, Christianna (pseud. Mary Christianna Lewis (née Milne))

Published by London Michael Joseph 1950, 1950

About this Item

First edition. 240 pages. Inscribed by the author to the front endpaper: "This was based on a true story told to me by the editor of a woman's magazine Christianna Brand. Signed for John Cooper", with an additional cheeky aside to the dedication page, on which Brand has circled the name of the dedicatee, Mary Lewis and added a note beneath: "this is me! It is my real name. C. B.", revealing that she chose to dedicate the book to herself. The recipient was John Cooper, a notable bibliographer and collector of detective fiction, who corresponded with many crime writers. The book is firmly bound in blueish grey cloth, lettered and decorated in gilt to the spine, the extremities are slightly bumped and rubbed and the spine is a trifle cocked. The text block is slightly foxed and age toned. The dust jacket is the original and not price clipped, it is slightly rubbed and creased, with a few small chips and short closed tears to the edges. A Gothic-laced murder mystery written by Brand at the peak of her powers, displaying her literary influences; with the lonely Welsh setting reminiscent of Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca or Bronte's Jane Eyre, and a macabre Bluebeard inspired plot. The first edition is quite uncommon and inscribed copies are rare.

Seller Inventory # 6942

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Cat and Mouse
• Publisher: London Michael Joseph 1950
• Publication Date: 1950
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • Crime
  • Gothic