WHEAT AND TARES

London: Ward, Lock & Co., Limited, 1914. First Edition. Signed presentation from Trent on the half-title page: “To/ Alice Challenor with best regards from Paul Trent. Sep. 1914.” Paul Trent is a pseudonym of Edward Platt. Little is known of him but he wrote dozens of mystery and thriller novels between 1913 and the mid-1940s. He began by writing short stories in magazines. 'His Excellency Entertains' is one of the earliest and was published in 'Yes or No' magazine on 2 September 1911. He had a series detective, Peter Quayle, in 'Quayle of the Yard' and 'Quayle's First Case' both published in 1915. His first published novel was 'A Wife by Purchase' (1909) and his last was 'John and Son' (1946). He wrote around 94 novels this is his scarce eighth novel. Early autographed books by Trent are scarce. Thick 12mo., decorative embossed blue cloth, stamped in gilt; 319 pages, with 16-page publisher's catalogue. Very Good (covers nice & bright; contents clean & tight with some browning to front endpaper, rear endpaper lacking).