The Arcadians. Sequel to Arcadian Adelaide
Adelaide, printed by Modern Printing Company [for the Author], 1905 (fourth edition)/ 1905.
Octavo, 38, [2] (advertisements) pages plus a frontispiece portrait and advertisements on both sides of the rear cover.
Thistle-decorated wrappers a little stained, with minor expert conservation; light tide-mark or discolouration to the blank top margin of the first half of the booklet; trifling signs of use; overall a very good copy.
Such was the notoriety of the author's pamphlet 'Arcadian Adelaide' (1905) (which provoked a spate of scathing reviews and apologiae for the city, yet proved extremely popular) that this sequel is prefaced (on the first page) by 'Read Arcadian Adelaide, which has reached its Tenth Edition. This Book will shortly be Withdrawn from Sale'. Perhaps in gleeful expectation of further outraged responses, there is a further preface (on the verso of the title page): 'Note. This Book is not meant for School-girls or Children'. The original pamphlet was 'a venomous invective against the self-satisfaction and dullness of Edwardian Adelaide'. Here, Anderson remarks that 'frail humanity is invariably curious. Those referred to in this chapter will probably recognise themselves, and when they do, said chapter will have achieved its primary object. To those who do not recognise themselves will probably recognise their neighbor ...'. She continues in a sort of savage froth: 'I am not suggesting that all plain people should be exterminated. But one can only justify one's right to existence by beauty of some sort, mental, moral or physical - and I hold that it is extremely wrong to assist the birth-rate by producing the human freaks we frequently see'. However, in a more sublime moment she states that 'I hold that there is a higher mission than domestic life for a brainy woman' ... These cheaply produced booklets clearly struck a chord, and untold quantities must have been sold. However, despite (or more likely because of) their popularity, copies are rarely seen on the open market.
Item #102659
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