A History of Departed Things (Signed first edition, 1918)

Signed by Ruth Head to Edith Olivier

Author

Publisher

Printing Details

First edition, first printing. Hardback (rebound in plain cream binder's cloth). 19 × 12.5cm, 242pp.

This copy signed by Ruth Head to Edith Olivier to the ffep "To Edith Olivier, in all humility from Ruth Head, July 30, 1929). Ruth Head (nee Mayhew) was married to Henry Head, a neurologist who had worked closely with W H Rivers in his work with casualties of the Great War. One in particular was Siegfried Sassoon, a close friend and confidante of Edith Olivier, who became close to the Heads after Rivers' death in 1922 and maintained a lifelong and affectionate correspondence with Ruth. Another of Edith Olivier's circle, Stephen Tennant, suffered severe nervous breakdowns and Sassoon would consult Ruth.

Ruth Head's debut novel. There's not a great deal of information on it, but it appears to be delicate story focusing on characters from an Oxford background navigating domestic life and social snobbery, and told mostly through letters.

Condition

The cloth binding is mottled to both boards, but heaviest to the upper board. Slight rubbing and bumping to the corners. There is light spotted foxing to the page edges and prelims but the book remains in strong readable condition. An uncommon title, and particularly so signed.