THE BROOK KERITH. A SYRIAN STORY

London: William Heinemann, 1929. No. 8 OF 375 COPIES, SIGNED by Stephen Gooden and George Moore. 265 x 170 mm. (10 3/8 x 6 1/2"). 4 p.l., 362 pp.
Publisher's full vellum, smooth spine with gilt titling, partially unopened, edges untrimmed. In a later marbled paper slipcase. WITH 12 ENGRAVINGS BY STEPHEN GOODEN (nine of these full-page), with original tissue guards. ◆Vellum with a little natural yellowing and a couple of small nicks and other imperfections, but the contents pristine.

This is a beautiful, limited edition of Irish novelist George Moore's controversial retelling of the life of Jesus Christ, illustrated by Stephen Gooden. First published in 1916, the novel was nearly banned for blasphemy, and encouraged Moore (1852-1933) to publish his future works in limited editions. The copper engravings of Gooden (1892-1955) are among the most beautiful book illustrations of his day. Horne says that he was a "literary" artist who was sensitive to the form of the book, aware of the possibilities of its page for decoration, and able "to appreciate the quality of the books he illustrated." He had "an imaginative grasp of the subject matter, and his witty and elegant illustrations are finely engraved and inventive in design." The present work is in excellent condition, and signed by both the artist and the writer..