I Capture the Castle.

Boston: Little, Brown and Company,, 1948. The work in getting my novel published has been past description First edition, first printing, of the author's wildly successful debut novel, together with an autograph letter signed "Dodie", addressed to her close friend and theatre colleague, John Evelyn Moore. This letter is a warm and affectionate accompaniment to Smith's highly acclaimed novel, detailing the trials and tribulations of publishing the work, which was subsequently printed in the UK the following year. Written and first published in the United States, I Capture the Castle speaks to Smith's yearning for home. A conscientious objector, alongside her husband, Smith had emigrated from England to the US in 1939, spending time in California, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. This coming-of-age story of Cassandra Mortmain living with her family amidst genteel poverty in pre-war south of England reflects a bucolic, idealized vision of Smith's former home and happy upbringing. The autograph letter accompanying this copy speaks to Smith's status as an exile and her sense of nostalgia for home. Smith had left behind a successful career as a West End playwright, having written a number of successful productions throughout the 1930s. The recipient, John Evelyn Moore, had been stage manager during the debut production of Smith's play Dear Octopus at the Queen's Theatre in the West End in 1938 and thereafter remained close friends with the author. Smith's fond memories her work in the theatre are evident in her letter as she discusses the arduous process of publishing her book: "I'd rather face several Drury Lane productions than cope with what we have had to do since the book itself was finished and accepted!" In spite of her intense homesickness, Smith would not move back to the UK until 1953, for fear of a febrile and unwelcome reception for those who had left Britain during the war, and she writes of her desire to return, "If I could finish a play I thought just right for England now, I might come for a visit to do it". The letter shows an author highly sensitive to and engaged with the publication of her "so very English" novel and its critical reception in America. She discusses the reviews received in the American press, including the "poor" and "middling" ones, and hopes that Moore will enjoy the work: "Theatrical people can be very critical (especially of me!)... I know that you, personally, would never want to harm my book, even if you hated it". Octavo. Original light blue cloth, spine lettered in blue, castle vignette on front cover in blue. With dust jacket designed by Samuel Bryant. Together with an autograph letter, dated 22 November 1948, signed ("Dodie") from Smith to Miss John Evelyn Moore, 4 leaves (278 x 215 mm), headed letter paper ("Netherby Farm, Turk Road, Doylestown, Pennsylvania"), and accompanying envelope (100 x 225 mm). Fly-titles with vignette illustrations by Ruth Steed. Gift inscription from one Anne Willis to front free endpaper. Spine and extremities toned and a little bumped, several spots to fore edge, offsetting to endpapers, internally bright. A very good copy in like, unclipped dust jacket, spine toned, extremities creased, nicked, and rubbed, several punctures to front panel not affecting text, presenting well. Autograph letter remains bright and sharp, a couple of spots, final leaf slightly chipped to left edge only negligibly affecting text.