The Prince and Betty
New York, W.J. Watt & Company, [1912] (first edition).
Octavo, [vi], 300 pages plus a frontispiece (with a tissue-guard), pictorial title-page and 4 full-page plates (all by Will Grefé).
Black cloth blocked in gilt and with two oval colour onlays mounted on the front cover; cloth mottled on the sides; endpapers lightly tanned; trifling signs of age and handling; an excellent copy.
'A romantic novel written for the American market with Rupert Smith (without the "P") attending Harvard. The story deals with New York City slums, gang wars (one of the first to do so), and boxers' (Jasen, page 39). Wodehouse drew heavily on 'Psmith Journalist', earlier serialised in 'The Captain: A Magazine for Boys and "Old Boys"' (1909-10). The London version of 'The Prince and Betty', published later in 1912, features a substantially different plot. 'Psmith Journalist' was published in book form in 1915, omitting the love interest. McIlvaine A15a; Jasen 15.
Item #146642
Price (AUD):
$750.00