The Lost One : A Biography of Mary (Perdita) Robinson

The First UK Printing published by Methuen & Co. Ltd, London in 1937. 8vo., red publisher's cloth, lettered with decorative borders in black to spine; together in the unclipped wrapper designed by William Nicholson, with overlaid price sticker of 14/- net to lower front flap; with frontis and a further 15 black and white plates ; as well as a decorative vignette on the title page also designed by Nicholson; The BOOK is in Very Good++ or better condition ; Lightly spotted to outer edges of text block and prelims; boards are very lightly rubbed at the lower edges; The WRAPPER lightly toned and rubbed along the folds and spine; light A little nicking and rubbing to spine ends; some age related marking in places. The wrapper is striking in a removable Brodart archival cover. First UK edition. Steen's biography of the author, and sometime-lover of George IV. The book is noted for being a collaboration between Steen and her own lover, the acclaimed artist William Nicholson - she would later go on to write Nicholson's biography. The pair had met in Andalucia in May 1935, and by June were living together at Nicholson's mews studio in London. Nicholson was at the time separated from his wife, and the pair remained close companions for the remainder of Nicholson's life. Steen was a prolific writer of over 40 novels over the course of her life, but this remains only her second of four biographies which she would write in her life. Mary Robinson was an 18th century English actress who was also known as 'Perdita' for her role in the 1779 adaptation of Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale'. Steen would have seen much of herself in Robinson - both of them being teachers, actresses, and novel writers. Robinson was also the first public mistress of King George IV while he was Prince of Wales. A very scarce, particularly so with the striking wrapper in such collectible condition. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.