THE BEAUTIFUL AND DAMNED

THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE DAMNED By F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1922

First edition, first printing, in first state dust jacket

INSCRIBED AND SIGNED

by F. SCOTT FITZGERALD to William J. Flynn, Chief of the United States Secret Service

Condition: book is in very good to very good plus condition; inner hinges lightly reinforced with Japanese tissue paper; original first edition, first state dust jacket has small areas were the inside is stabilized with neutral pH, acid-free removable tape; spine modestly sunned, gold-lettering still strong; interior pages clean and bright; dust jacket shows some light sunning on spine and edge-wear and a few bits of missing paper. Fitzgerald inscription strong, clean, and bright.

William J. Flynn, born in New York City, was an intriguing personality himself. He began his professional working life as a plumber, but soon became practiced as a United States Secret Service agent. During his early career as a law enforcement officer Flynn was assigned to investigating and breaking up counterfeiting organizations like the Morello Family mafia and Black Hand extortionists. Soon after assisting in getting convictions for many in the Morello organization, he specialized in investigating the American mafia. In 1911, Flynn was placed in charge of reorganizing the detective department of New York City. He proved to be so successful with this Flynn was honored with the position of Chief of the Secret Service. He served in that position from 1912 - 1917. While Chief, Flynn uncovered a German spy ring formed by German diplomat, Dr. Heinrich Albert, and proceeded to dismantle it, saving countless American lives. Flynn was then rewarded with the Directorship of the Bureau of Investigation. After World War I, Flynn's obsessive dedication to destroying German espionage soon became viewed as counterproductive by the U.S. Government. He was retired from active service and was left with little more than commendations. Flynn then turned to another of his interests -- writing crime fiction.

He was fortunate to place articles with journals and newspapers, such as the Washington Post and New York Herald. His growing reputation soon had him meeting many of New York's noted novelists. In 1916 - 17, Flynn collaborated with Courtney Ryley Cooper -- future author of such well-known books as Under the Big Top and Oklahoma , but at this time just a press agent for the Sells-Floto Circus -- to write The Eagle's Eye and published by Prospect Press, New York. William Flynn went on to write story lines for New York movie producers while Courtney Ryley Cooper joined the U.S. Marines (before becoming a famous author). Flynn also edited and published Flynn's Weekly Detective Fiction magazine, which became highly successful.

Two books in this offering: 1) THE BEAUTIFUL AND DAMNED, 1st inscribed, dust-jacketed; and, 2) THE EAGLE'S EYE, 1919, by William J. Flynn, to who THE BEAUTIFUL AND DAMNED was inscribed by Fitzgerald.

COLORADO ARTIFACTUAL & MT. GOTHIC TOMES