Revolution and Other Essays

ix+309+[iv ads] pages. Small octavo (7 3/4" x 5 1/2"). bound in original publisher's burgundy cloth with gilt lettering to spine and cover with the preferred "THE MACMILLAN COMPANY" on spine. 2,130 copies printed. (BAL 11916) (Sisson & Martens 46) First edition.

A collection of 13 essays written between 1900 and 1908, published in 1910. The lead essay, "Revolution", outlines how and why London renounced capitalism as a failed social system and declared himself an active participant in the "socialist revolution", the last essay is an autobiographical piece, and the essays in between are on diverse subjects. A few of the "essays" are actually humorous short fiction stories; others are serious, sometimes angry rants against capitalistic greed and political corruption. All of the pieces are thought-provoking and excellently written, though only loosely intellectual, highly opinionated, and rife with contradiction, as was London himself.

Condition:

Corners gently bumped, spine ends and corners moderately rubbed, previous owner's name on front end paper. Very good to fine dust jacket.