Kai Lung Unrolls His Mat -
Ernest Bramah
1928 - The Richards Press Ltd., London - First Edition, in first issue dust jacket
‘The more you can consume, the less will be this self-conscious person’s shame at the insipidity of what he puts before you; the longer you can tolerate his worn-out roof, the greater will be the confidence with which he can henceforth continue to dwell beneath it...’
The third collection of stories in Brahmah’s ‘Kai Lung’ series: a brilliant literary fusion of myths, legends, and cosmology from the Golden age of Han, tied together with Bramah’s keen eye for combining historic fiction and comedy. Kai Lung, our hapless yet loveable protagonist, must once again defeat his enemies and win back his kidnapped wife; Hwa-Mei, by weaving together seemingly unconnected parables and tales until an overarching narrative is skilfully revealed.
A seminal influence in the genre of speculative fiction, Bramah’s works have been compared with those of Jerome K. Jerome, and PG Wodehouse. His work went on to inspire writers such as Dorothy L Sayers, Jorge Luis Borges, and George Orwell, among many others. Ernest Bramah (1868-1942) was known for his reclusive nature, the author of over twenty critically and commercially acclaimed novels. ‘Mr. Bramah, who is also widely known for his humorous works, including the delightful pseudo-Chinese parables, ‘The Kai Lung’ Tales, is one of the most self effacing of modern authors. “I am not fond of writing about myself, and only to a less degree about my work. My published works are about all that I care to pass on to the reader”.’ (Howard Haycraft).
First issue dust jacket, with no price stated on spine, and price of ‘7/6 NET’ to lower corner of front flap (second issue has ‘3/6 NET’ to spine). We have noted three different cloth colours for the first edition, terracotta (this copy), bright green (seems the most common), grey or grey-green.
References: Haycraft, Murder for Pleasure 78.
Octavo (19.5 x 13 cm). pp. vii [1] 344. In publisher’s terracotta cloth, front board and spine lettered in black, dust jacket priced ‘7/6 NET’ to lower corner of front flap. Condition: Near fine, with the exception of some spotting to the foredge, in very good dust jacket with two 1cm chips to upper edge of front panel, wear to spine ends and corners. Ref: 108777 Price: HK$ 2,000
The third collection of stories in Brahmah’s ‘Kai Lung’ series: a brilliant literary fusion of myths, legends, and cosmology from the Golden age of Han, tied together with Bramah’s keen eye for combining historic fiction and comedy. Kai Lung, our hapless yet loveable protagonist, must once again defeat his enemies and win back his kidnapped wife; Hwa-Mei, by weaving together seemingly unconnected parables and tales until an overarching narrative is skilfully revealed.
A seminal influence in the genre of speculative fiction, Bramah’s works have been compared with those of Jerome K. Jerome, and PG Wodehouse. His work went on to inspire writers such as Dorothy L Sayers, Jorge Luis Borges, and George Orwell, among many others. Ernest Bramah (1868-1942) was known for his reclusive nature, the author of over twenty critically and commercially acclaimed novels. ‘Mr. Bramah, who is also widely known for his humorous works, including the delightful pseudo-Chinese parables, ‘The Kai Lung’ Tales, is one of the most self effacing of modern authors. “I am not fond of writing about myself, and only to a less degree about my work. My published works are about all that I care to pass on to the reader”.’ (Howard Haycraft).
First issue dust jacket, with no price stated on spine, and price of ‘7/6 NET’ to lower corner of front flap (second issue has ‘3/6 NET’ to spine). We have noted three different cloth colours for the first edition, terracotta (this copy), bright green (seems the most common), grey or grey-green.
References: Haycraft, Murder for Pleasure 78.
Octavo (19.5 x 13 cm). pp. vii [1] 344. In publisher’s terracotta cloth, front board and spine lettered in black, dust jacket priced ‘7/6 NET’ to lower corner of front flap. Condition: Near fine, with the exception of some spotting to the foredge, in very good dust jacket with two 1cm chips to upper edge of front panel, wear to spine ends and corners. Ref: 108777 Price: HK$ 2,000