WILLIAMS, Charles ~ Shadows of Ecstasy.

FIRST UK PRINTING. Victor Gollancz Ltd., London: 1933.

8vo., black publisher's boards lettered in pale yellow to spine; together in the iconic yellow Gollancz dustwrapper, printed in black and pink; priced 7/6 to spine; THE BOOK a very good copy with slight shelf-lean; a few spots to prelims and offsetting to endleaves; previous bookseller's sticker to front free endpaper; THE DUSTWRAPPER good, with some shelf wear and marking; creased along folds; panels and particularly spine darkened; small nicks and chips to ends of folds and spine; old tape repair to verso. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. First UK edition, first printing. Charles Williams (1886-1945) was a poet, author, theologian and editor at Oxford University Press. Born in London and educated at St. Alban's School he became, in 1908, a proofreading assistant for OUP, and quickly climbed to the position of editor. Among his contributions to the press was the first English language edition of the works of the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. Along with J. R. R. Tolkien, he was a member of 'The Inklings', a literary society founded by C. S. Lewis which encouraged the writing of fantasy works. It was during this time that he heard Tolkien read the group early drafts of what would later become The Lord of the Rings, and Williams would later write his most famous work, 'All Hallows Eve', after encouragement from his peers. It was published in 1945, with an introduction by T. S. Eliot. Although 'Shadows of Ecstacy' was referred to by T. S. Eliot as one of Williams's seven 'supernatural thrillers' (published between 1930 and 1945), it was one of the first books Williams had written, as far back as 1926. By the time it was published, four other novels had appeared, and it was re-written significantly in 1932. The plot focuses on Nigel Considine, an occult leader who has discovered the power of significantly extending his life. Living in Africa, he uses African lore to die and resurrect his own body, before leading a revolutionary group to invade Europe, united in a fanatic crusade against death. A fantastic work of abstract mythical fantasy, scarce in the dustwrapper.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Very Good
JACKET: Good