Those Barren Leaves

New York: George H. Doran Company, 1925 First American limited edition. One of 250 numbered large paper copies signed by Huxley, this being number 221. Publisher's half white parchment over green-gray boards, brown label lettered in gilt to spine, and top edge gilt; in its original white dust jacket, with "five dollars net" printed to front flap, lettered in black, with publisher's device to front panel. Very good book, with some toning and scratches to spine, a tiny chip to spine label (text unaffected), early owner's bookplate to front pastedown, and Holliday Bookshop ticket to rear pastedown; very good or better unclipped dust jacket, with some toning to spine, shallow chipping to spine ends, horizontal crease to jacket, presumably from being folded, a touch of staining to rear panel, and a small closed tear to top edge of rear panel. Overall, a clean copy, in an attractive example of the exceedingly scarce original dust jacket. Those Barren Leaves is a satirical novel that attacks the superficiality of cultural elitism. Specifically, it tells the story of Mrs. Aldwinkle and her companions, who gather in Italy to recreate the literary achievements and cultural glory of the Italian Renaissance. However, each member of the group, which includes a philosopher, a poet, and a novelist, among others, proves in his or her own way to fall short of Mrs. Aldwinkle's expectations of grandeur. The book's title is derived from Wordsworth's poem "The Tables Turned," which concludes with the stanza: "Enough of Science and of Art; / Close up those barren leaves; / Come forth, and bring with you a heart / That watches and receives." . Signed by Author. First American Limited Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good/Dust Jacket Included.