THE SATURDAY BOOK 27 INSCRIBED BY JOHN HADFIELD TO LEONARD RUSSELL, THE FOUNDER OF THE SATURDAY BOOK

EDITED BY JOHN HADFIELD

Published by Hutchinson, London, UK, 1967

About this Item

Octavo. Original cloth gilt. Dustwrapper. INSCRIBED BY JOHN HADFIELD THUS: 'THE FOUNDER'S COPY WITH THE EDITOR'S REGARDS AND RESPECTS, 16.X.67.' Binding nice and tight. Pages nice and clean. A near fine, tight, clean copy in very good plus, slightly creased and rubbed, bright, clean dustwrapper. Leonard Russell was an influential British editor and writer best known for founding and editing The Saturday Book, an annual miscellany of stories, essays, and artwork that celebrated British culture and creativity. The publication, which ran from 1941 to 1975, became a beloved institution, showcasing an eclectic range of contributions from well-known writers, poets, and artists of the time. Born in 1906, Russell had a rich literary career, working as a newspaper editor for The Sunday Times before turning his attention to The Saturday Book. His aim with this collection was to provide readers with a light-hearted and stimulating escape, particularly during the difficult years of the Second World War and post-war Britain. The annual featured a variety of content?fiction, poetry, photography, and essays?on topics as varied as literature, art, history, and travel, all delivered with a distinctly British charm and wit. The Saturday Book became known for its celebration of British eccentricities and traditions. Russell's editorial voice was central to this, as he carefully curated a mix of the whimsical, the nostalgic, and the thought-provoking. Contributors included literary figures such as George Bernard Shaw, Evelyn Waugh, and Vita Sackville-West, alongside artists like Edward Ardizzone. While Leonard Russell passed away in 1974, just before the series came to a close, The Saturday Book remains a treasured collection that provides a snapshot of mid-20th-century British life and thought, filled with the charm, wit, and idiosyncrasies that defined the era. A scarce association copy.

Seller Inventory # 002429

Bibliographic Details

• Title: THE SATURDAY BOOK 27 INSCRIBED BY JOHN HADFIELD TO LEONARD RUSSELL, THE FOUNDER OF THE SATURDAY BOOK
• Publisher: Hutchinson, London, UK
• Publication Date: 1967
• Language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good Plus
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)