Memoirs of a Polyglot. By William Gerhardi

William GERHARDIE

Published by London: Duckworth, 1931

About this Item

Spine darkened and a little worn at head and foot, backstrip split at head, covers a little marked, corners rubbed, two leaves loose. With the ownership inscription of Dora Penny (?), 1932, and later bookplate and few marginal marks and manuscript notes of Sir Michael Holroyd; inscribed by the author on the half-title, "Michael Holroyd, to compare with his own probable literary life, and wishing him auspicious visits [?] , William Gerhardi London, April, 1961", and signed by him on the title-page. "Yesterday, at dinner, it suddenly occurred to me what a fine fellow I was. How modest I have been! How good! How unduly assuming! Arnold Bennett once confided to me that it didn't matter how you wrote: what mattered was whether you were a good fellow. How unerring that man s instinct! . . ." The book, on which Hugh Kingsmill gave helpful but not always welcome advice, was to have been dedicated, "To Hugh Kingsmill, A fine writer but a rotten friend". Gerhardie's biographer ably confronts the eccentricity of these Memoirs, declaring, "L.P. Hartley was . . . the only reviewer (apart from the Glasgow Herald) to begin to grasp Gerhardie's use of his ego as a conscious literary device: 'an author does not cease to be brilliant, humorous, and delightful just because he is aware of being brilliant, humorous and delightful.'".

Seller Inventory # HK100046

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Memoirs of a Polyglot. By William Gerhardi
• Publisher: London: Duckworth
• Publication Date: 1931
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Good
• Signed: Inscribed by Author(s)