P. G. Wodehouse

WODEHOUSE, P. G. (1881-1975). A Damsel in Distress. London: Herbert Jenkins Limited, 1919.

First English edition, first impression. A hilarious story of mistaken identity and the ensuing mayhem, A Damsel in Distress, was serialised in the Saturday Evening Post between May and June of 1919. The story revolves around the golf-loving composer George Bevan who falls for a mysterious damsel in distress who takes refuge in his taxicab. The success of this title saw its adaptation for the screen in 1937, where Hollywood legend Fred Astaire took on the role of bumbling Mr Bevan. McIlvaine A24b.

Octavo. Original burnt red cloth, front cover and spine lettered in black (corners faintly bumped, covers faintly marked); original pictorial dust-jacket, front flap: advertisement for Bindle novel; back flap: advertisement for John Dene of Toronto (spine sunned, a few light creases, head and foot of spine reinforced with old paper on verso, some splits and nicks to folds and edges). Provenance: James Heineman (bookplate; bibliographer of Wodehouse).