Author: ALLEN, Grant
Title: Hilda Wade a Woman with Tenacity of Purpose
Description: New York City, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1900. 1st edition. Hardcover. pp. x, 383.8vo,,Bound in original olive green cloth,Charles Grant Blairfindie Allen (1848-1899) was born in Kingston, Ontario. At age 13, Allen and his parents moved to the United States. He won a scholarship to Merton College, Oxford (1867-1871), from which he was graduated with a B.A. During 1873-1876, he was professor of mental and moral philosophy in a new college at Spanish Town, Jamaica, which had been established for the education of negroes. After this institution failed, he returned to England, where he pursued writing as a profession. He was perhaps better known as an author of scientific and philosophical books, although he produced over 30 works of fiction, from which most of his income was generated. 'Hilda Wade' is Allen's final work, and all but the last chapter had been completed by the time of his death. His close friend, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, gathered up Allen's notes and completed the final chapter, which effort the publisher acknowledged in a prefatory note. This book is a very early example of a mystery novel with a woman detective as the central character. This copy is the first American edition. It was also published in London by Grant Richards. Our copy has had the inner hinges taped with masking tape by a prior owner. The text block is still tightly stitched, and nothing is loose. The contents are clean. The boards show very light rubbing at the edges and light soiling. There is a very small red stain towards the bottom of the front board. The book is slightly off-set, or cocked. Very well-illustrated by the noted artist Gordon Browne, showing the heroine in the fashions of the day. Ill.: Gordon Browne illustrations. With 98 b&w illustrations by Gordon Browne and five pages of publisher's ads at the end of the book. No dust jacket.

Keywords: CanLit;Woman detective;;;;;;;CCMF Gordon Browne illustrations


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