The Subjugated Beast

Ryan, R. R.

Published by Herbert Jenkins, London, 1938

About this Item

First UK Edition. Publisher's orange boards with black lettering to the front board and spine. 312 pages + 8 page catalogue to the rear. Quite heavy foxing to the top edge of the text block, penetrating up to 0.5cm internally. The fore edge suffers too but to a lesser extent. The first and last few pages are also foxed as is the title page (albeit lightly). Corners lightly rubbed, cloth lightly marked otherwise a VG+ bright, clean, vibrant, firm and sound copy which, on a liberal view, is good enough to take a dustwrapper. No fraying. No inscriptions. Looks nicer than it sounds. The identity of R R Ryan is still hotly debated. "James Doing over at Wormwoodiana feels he has conclusive proof that Ryan was the author and theatre producer Mr. Evelyn Bradley (1882-1950). But in the introduction to the new edition of Beast, John Pelan puts forth his thesis that Ryan was Denice Jeanette Bradley-Ryan, who published several books of her own. Pelan offers family memories from Bradley's grandson as proof. James Doing brings up actual book contracts and a death notice which states: "Evelyn BRADLEY otherwise Rex RYAN" as his smoking gun (GoodReads). These works were ahead of their time, and went largely unappreciated until the 1980s when Karl Edward Wagner included three R R Ryan titles (including this title at # 13) in his well-known list of best Non-Supernatural Horror novels for Twilight Zone Magazine. The three listings is more than any other author. The R R Ryan books are now regarded as classics of the type and their UK first editions are highly sought-after. A diet of raw meat and a programme of hypnotherapy slowly transforms a kindly wife into something less than kindly. Her brilliant and psychotic scientist husband carefully studies the effects he has created. Their niece attempts to intervene, much to her misfortune. NB: this is the "true" UK first edition and not a re-issue. Looks very smart in its acetate protector. Photographs/scans available upon request. Seller Inventory # 355490723009

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Subjugated Beast

Publisher: Herbert Jenkins, London

Publication Date: 1938

Binding: Hard Cover

Edition: First Edition.