THE NARRATIVE OF JOHN SMITH - VERY RARE LIMITED EDITION OF 250 COPIES - SIGNED, PRE-PUBLICATION DATED & NUMBERED FIRST EDITION, FIRST IMPRESSION

CONAN DOYLE Arthur ( Edited by LELLENBERG Jon, STASHOWER Daniel & FOSS Rachel )

ISBN 10: 0712358498 / ISBN 13: 9780712358491

Published by British Library, London, 2011

About this Item

Arthur Conan Doyle wrote The Narrative of John Smith in 1883 when he was just 23, living in Portsmouth and struggling to establish himself as a doctor and a writer. By that time he had succeeded in getting a number of short stories published in leading magazines of the day, such as Blackwood's, All the Year Round, London Society and the Boy's Own Paper. But, as was the accepted practice of literary journals of the time, his stories were published anonymously and Conan Doyle realised that to make his name as a writer he would have to write a novel. That novel, the first he ever wrote, and published here for the first time, is The Narrative of John Smith. Signed and Pre-Publication Dated ( 20th September 2011 ) by Rachel Foss to the Title Page. This Book being Number 115 of 250 Copies issued. Rachel Foss, apart from being one of the co-editors of this novel, is Lead Curator of Modern Literary Manuscripts at The British Library. The Book & Slipcase are in As New condition, no Dust Jacket as issued. There are no inscriptions. This unread book is guaranteed to be a 1st Edition, 1st Printing. The book is professionally wrapped and packed with great care with bubble wrap and placed in a special book box to ensure that the book arrives at your destination in perfect condition.

Seller Inventory # 003445

Bibliographic Details

• Title: THE NARRATIVE OF JOHN SMITH - VERY RARE LIMITED EDITION OF 250 COPIES - SIGNED, PRE-PUBLICATION DATED & NUMBERED FIRST EDITION, FIRST IMPRESSION
• Publisher: British Library, London
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0712358498
• ISBN 13: 9780712358491
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: As New
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • General

About this title

Synopsis

Arthur Conan Doyle wrote his first novel The Narrative of John Smith in 1883 when he was just 23, living in Portsmouth and struggling to establish himself as a doctor and a writer. Never published before, it has exceptional value as a window into the mind of the creator of Sherlock Holmes, and many of the themes and tropes of Conan Doyle's later writing can clearly be seen. Via the protagonist, John Smith, a 50-year-old man confined to his room by an attack of gout, Conan Doyle sets down his thoughts and opinions on a range of subjects - literature, science, religion, war and education - making it a novel of considerable biographical importance. While it is more a string of ruminations than a fully developed novel, The Narrative of John Smith is, nevertheless, a fascinating record of an early attempt at writing by a man who was on his way to becoming one of the best-known authors in the world. To celebrate this unique publishing event, we will be releasing a special slipcased cloth-bound edition, limited to 250 numbered copies.

About the Author

Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was a doctor and a writer. Best known for his creation of Sherlock Holmes and impact on the genre of crime fiction he also wrote short stories, historical novels, plays, romances, poetry and non-fiction.