DREAM DAYS. Evelyn Waugh's Family Copy.
London & New York: John Lane: The Bodley Head, 1899. First Edition (& 1st printing). Octavo, original yellow buckram lettered and decorated with a design by Charles Robinson to spine and upper cover. 275 pp, + 14 pp publisher's catalogue bound in at rear, dated 1898). Inscribed on the front free endpaper "From J.W.G., Greeting to Mrs. Arthur Waugh / Christmas 1898". Inner hinges lightly cracked, cloth soiled and dull. A very good copy. Item #314269
¶ Inscribed in 1898 to Mrs. Arthur Waugh from a friend. Catherine Charlotte "Kate" Waugh (nee Raban), wife of Arthur Waugh, author, literary critic and publisher, & the mother of writers Alec (born 1898) and Evelyn (born 1903) Waugh. A delightful children's book by the author of THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS, which in later years was often quoted by Evelyn Waugh and was quite obviously one of his favourite children's books. Having received this copy as a gift when Kate had just had her first child, one can assume that this is the copy that she read to the children as they grew older. While not of the same fame as THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS, DREAM DAYS was (and still is) considered a great & classic children's book, one in which the children are treated like real people, unlike most children's books of the time. We have been unable to determine with accuracy who the book is inscribed from; but considering Arthur Waugh's literary connections at the time it is quite likely to be a person of some importance.
Price (CAD): $500.00