WILLIAMS, Valentine.

£650 · Offered by Peter Harrington · No longer available

The Crouching Beast. First edition, first impression, inscribed by the author on the half-title in the month of publication, "For Afsa with best wishes from the Author Oct. 1928". Williams's inter-war thriller title is set immediately before the First World War and features the return of the German secret agent "Clubfoot". The novel inspired the film adaptation of 1935 directed by Victor Hanbury.One contemporary review stated "Mr Williams writes of political intrigue and international politics convincingly, as one who knows his subject. He has a gift, as we already knew, for the creation of awe-inspiring villains and for the telling of an exciting story. He has done nothing better than this new story of the diabolical machinations of 'Clubfoot', whom we hope to meet again" (Daily News, London).Provenance: from the collection of the Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, with his posthumous bookplate.

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