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READ**, MISS [pen name DORA JANE SAINT.**]: : Farewell to Fairacre. [Author SIGNED copy.]

LONDON.MICHAEL JOSEPH,1993.

ISBN 0718136667.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,author SIGNED,1st edn.FINE/FINE. No owner inscrptn,but a GARFIELD (cartoon cat) bookplate tipped in to ffe,author's handwritten signature and dedication: 'To Betty and Crispin With much love Dora (Miss Read)' to title page, price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp,clean,colour pictorial artwork by John S.Goodall illustrated dw/dj; with negligible shelf-wear to edges and corners - no nicks or tears present.Book slightly cocked.Top+fore-edges lightly aged but clean,contents bright,tight and clean - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners.Publisher's bright,clean,original plain dark blue cloth boards with bright,crisp, blocked gilt letters to spine/backstrip and J.S. Goodall b/w line illustrated,front+rear free endpapers.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,authpr SIGNED,1st edn, 4-213pp [paginated] includes Pts 1-3 comprising 16 chapters,b/w line illustrations throughout the text and the book,by John S. Goodall; plus [unpaginated] half-title,author SIGNED+dedicated title page,a dedication,a contents list/table and 2pp blanks to rear. Having enjoyed robust health throughout her career,Miss Read,the Village schoolmistress at Fairacre,is looking forward to an energetic retirement in a few years' time.Now that the welcome addition of some new children has relieved her of the fear of the school's closure,she should be feeling on top of the world. But to her dismay,she is suddenly taken ill.She has no wish to give up her post yet; but memories of her former colleague,Miss Clare, collapsing in front of the schoolchildren,haunt her.Is it time to say farewell to Fairacre? As Miss Read faces ill-health and considers far-reaching decisions of he rown,she is caught up in the concerns of her neighbours.She has to cope with the death of Henry Mawne's wife and his subsequent loneliness; and with the attentions of a good-looking newcomer to Beech Green,who appears to be in equal need of a wife. At school she endures,as usual,the relentless harrying of Miss Pringle,the cleaner,but she is worried about the new pupils,aware that all is not well at home.Caretaker Bob Willet and his wife,though,continue to give practical help to anyone in need and Miss Read has the support of Amy,her staunch college friend,who does her best to provide her with a husband. Want more MISS READ titles? For similar and other available titles - please search my MODERN FIRSTS2,GENERAL,SIGNED and BIOGRAPHY catalogues. John Strickland Goodall(b.1908).Works as John S. Goodall or J.S. Goodall.Born Heacham,Norfolk, son of a heart specialist. Leaving Harrow School,he worked in the studios of Sir Arthur Cope RA and E.Watson Nicol under whom he 'was taught with loving care to be a mid-Victorian art student'.He also studied under Harold Speed and at the Royal Academy Schools (c1930.)Served in the Royal Norfolk Regiment (1939-46). Concentrated on line drawing in the 1930's, began painting in watercolours while stationed in India at the end of WW2.Since which,his extensive travels (e.g. twice around the world in a cargo boat) provided him with many landscape subjects; he also paints conversation pieces and late 19thC pastiches in watercolour and gouache.As an illustrator he works in b/w (sometimes in silhouette) and full colour, turning his 'Victorian' early training to good account in evocative period tableaux.In his wordless picture books he has evolved an effective method of telling stories by means of half-pages placed between each double-page spread. Please contact seller,because of the lighter weight and the value of this item for correct, insured shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas customers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if item is offered P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIR postage from UK to these destination can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. between 1/2 to 2/3rds of standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving within a week or so,and sometimes before the quoted 42 days - but not always. **

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,SIGNED,1st edn.
'To Betty and Crispin With much love Dora (Miss Read)'.

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