The Swoop! Or, How Clarence Saved England.

WODEHOUSE, P. G.

Published by London: Alston Rivers, 1909

About this Item

First edition, Wodehouse's own copy, specially bound for his library. He later inscribed it for presentation, "To David [Jasen], all the best from Plum. P. G. Wodehouse". Issued to the public in wrappers for sale in railway bookstalls, the edition itself is "among the rarest Wodehousiana" (McIlvaine), and this is undoubtedly the best conceivable copy. Jasen notes in his biography of Wodehouse, "because it was published with such humble and unambitious intent, The Swoop. is now one of the rarest of Wodehouse books: but it is certainly not the least remarkable from the point of view of plot. The story concerns the invasion of England by the Germans and the saving of the nation by a Boy Scout" (p. 44). It was never published in America in book form, but it was serialized in Vanity Fair in 1915, after it became apparent the work had accidentally anticipated the First World War. Loosely inserted is a copy of a letter from Jasen, explaining that "My copy of The Swoop! was given to me by Plum (his copy) who had it bound hemself [sic] (not that he bound it himself!)" The letter also describes Jasen's special copy of Love Among the Chickens (1906), which we have handled and which included the original letter. David A. Jasen (1937-2022) was the dedicatee of Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves (1963). A ragtime scholar and performer, he shared a passion for music with Wodehouse, a famed musical lyricist. Jasen 11; McIlvaine A11a. David A. Jasen, P. G. Wodehouse: A Portrait of a Master, 1974. Octavo (174 x 115 mm). Illustrated by C. Harrison. With 6 pp. of adverts. Specially bound for the author in green half sheep, spine lettered in gilt, raised bands ruled in black, green cloth sides, green endpapers, edges speckled red, original front wrapper bound in. Spine and corners rubbed and stripped, slight wear to spine foot and corners, contents clean. In very good condition.

Seller Inventory # 186639

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Swoop! Or, How Clarence Saved England.
• Publisher: London: Alston Rivers, 1909
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)