The Spanish Farm

SIGNED FIRST EDITION. Mottram's first and best-known novel, based closely on his experiences during the First World War. He served with the Norfolk Regiment in Flanders before being transferred to work with the inhabitants of the Franco-Belgian border, investigating claims for damage caused by British troops. These experiences provided the basis for The Spanish Farm, which centres on a farm in French Flanders, near Ypres, occupied by British troops and the complicated relationships that develop between the soldiers and the local population; the book describes events from the perspective of a young Flemish woman. Preface by John Galsworthy, who praised its fidelity and its distinctive treatment of French character, the novel was notable for looking beyond the battlefield to the civilian population caught up in the war. It became the first volume of what became the Spanish Farm Trilogy, being followed by Sixty-Four, Ninety-Four! (1925) and The Crime at Vanderlynden's (1926). William Faulkner in particular greatly admired the trilogy, comparing it favourably with Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage. Scarce with jacket, especially so signed. BOOK: Publisher’s red cloth boards with gilt lettering; top-stain dark, a bit faded to extremities; light off-setting to endpapers, faint ownership signature to front flyleaf. Signed by Mottram to title page. DUST JACKET: Unclipped dust jacket priced 7s. net to spine, a little darkened to spine, toned to extremities, some very short slits to the head of the spine at the hinges.…