London: John Murray, 1902. First edition. Paste downs and end papers age darkened, inked name to half title page, foxing to page edges and text, rear hinge cracked, corner tips bruised and soft, darkening to spine, a very good copy. (28934). Octavo, pp. [1-8] [1-2] 3-312, title page printed in red and black, original decorated maroon cloth, front panel stamped in beige, spine panel stamped in gold, fore and bottom edges untrimmed. The author's second book. "Five stories set in Yorkshire, told in Onions' grim and gritty regionalistic manner, sprinkled with dialectical speech. The longest -- a novella really -- is 'Gambier,' about a new doctor who goes to a remote valley town and butts heads with a fanatical priest (Gambier) who directly or indirectly sacrifices the lives of his parishioners in the belief that he is saving their souls. The religious faith of the people, on the other hand, is built directly on top of age-old traditions of superstition and magic, and they sometimes pressure Gambier into performing a Black Mass in the old deserted abbey (Wastley Hall) to ensure some desired goal. The conflict between the two men eventually leads to a pitched battle in town, and to the performance of such a Black Mass -- interrupted violently by the doctor. The level of fantasy here is what one might call meta-supernatural, as its efficacy is not directly and unambiguously endorsed by the author, but the evocation of uncanny atmosphere is masterly and will appeal to those who have relished the more overtly supernatural fiction of Onions." - Robert Eldridge.

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Bookseller: John W. Knott, Jr., Bookseller, ABAA/ILAB (US)
Bookseller's Inventory #: 28934
Title: TALES FROM A FAR RIDING
Author: Onions, Oliver (George Oliver)
Book Condition: Used - Paste downs and end papers age darkened, inked name to half title page, foxing to page edges and text, rear hinge cracked, corne
Quantity Available: 1
Edition: First edition
Publisher: John Murray
Place of Publication: London
Date Published: 1902
Keywords: SC

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John W. Knott, Jr., Bookseller, ABAA/ILAB

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John W. Knott, Jr., Bookseller, ABAA/ILAB

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About John W. Knott, Jr., Bookseller, ABAA/ILAB

John W. Knott, Jr., BooksellerABAA/ILABFine First Editions

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Edges: The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
Spine: The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
Cracked: In reference to a hinge or a book's binding, means that the glue which holds the opposing leaves has allowed them to separate,...
First Edition: In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
Title Page: A page at the front of a book which may contain the title of the book, any subtitles, the authors, contributors, editors, the...
Half Title: The blank front page which appears just prior to the title page, and typically contains only the title of the book, although, at...
Octavo: Another of the terms referring to page or book size, octavo refers to a standard printer's sheet folded four times, producing...
Cloth: "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
New: A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
Hinge: The portion of the book closest to the spine that allows the book to be opened and closed.