Catherine Herself

London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1920 First edition, first printing of the author's first novel. Signed and inscribed by Hilton: "'a first of the first' / from / James Hilton / New Year 1935". Original publisher's cloth. A good copy with light wear, fading and a few small stains to the spine. A scarce title, and seldom found signed. James Hilton wrote and published Catherine Herself at the age of 20 while attending Christ's College in Cambridge as an undergraduate. The novel tells of a young female pianist and her teacher. As with many of his fictitious teachers, including the notable Mr. Chips, Hilton based the teacher character on his own father, who taught for many years. After producing a few successful novels, Hilton was invited to Hollywood to help write the screenplays for film adaptations of his works. He continued to write both screenplays and novels and won awards in both fields, including the Hawthornden Prize in 1934 for his novel Lost Horizon and an Oscar for his 1942 screenplay for Mrs. Miniver.. Inscribed by Author. First Edition. Hard Cover. Good.