May Fair: Being an Entertainment Purporting to Reveal to Gentlefolk the Real State of Affairs Existing in the Very Heart of London During the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Years of the Reign of His Majesty, King George the Fifth....(signed and Limited).
New York; (1925): George H. Doren Company. Limited Edition. Octavo. Item #028476
Limited to 550 copies. The present copy is #240 signed by the author. Large paper edition. 369 pages. After the Green Hat Michael Arlen dealt with the theme of the youth culture which blossomed in post-World War I London in the 1920's. Identified as Bright Young Things (or Mayfair Youth), the theme not only dealt with the different values of youth versus their fathers, who seemed too sexually advanced, keeping mixed company and spent every evening dancing. In January 1925, Cecil Beaton bemoved having lived "more than half one's nice life. It will be dreadful when I'm over 30." Cecil Beaton, The Wandering Years, Diaries, 1922-1939, small ticket to rear pastedown of H.W. Robinson Company, 7th and Grand, Los Angeles. Bound in 3/4 cream paper over orange paper covered boards, top edge gilt, leather spine label gilt with a bit of wear to edges, spine darkened.
Price: $300.00