Controversial James; An essay on the life and work of George Wharton James

San Francisco: (Printed at the Yolla Bolly Press for) The Book Club of California, 1991. Limited First Edition. Hardcover. Fine. One of 400 copies, quarto size, [112] pp., with original purchase invoice from the Book Club laid in. A biography and bibliographical checklist of George Wharton James (1858-1923). James was the author of over twenty major books and hundreds of lesser works on the American West. The son of a basket maker, and ordained Methodist Minister, James traveled from England to the United States in 1881, and settled in the Fresno area. James was a passionate student of the American West, and traveled and photographed the region extensively.

He was also an enthusiastic collector of books, Indian baskets and blankets, and photographs. His life had many controversies, especially his personal life, the most well known being that long-running feud with Charles Fletcher Lummis (1859-1928), a California writer and editor of "Land of Sunshine" who charged James with plagiarism, and tirelessly endeavored to destroy his career. An exciting account of a prolific author of western nonfiction, illustrated with beautiful, glossy black and white photos, and reproductions of drawings by Carl Eytel from James's "The Wonders of the Colorado Desert" throughout the text.

The third volume in the Literary Profiles series. Included in the Exhibition of Western Books (Rounce & Coffin Club).

___DESCRIPTION: Original maroon cloth with gilt basket illustration to upper board, rose-pink endpapers, eighteen plates of b/w photographs, numerous drawings in text, Janson linotype, machine made paper, quarto 10" by 8", [i-x] xi-xii 1-98 [99] [1 colophon] pp., limited first edition, one of 400 copies. Housed in a maroon paper slipcase with white label printed in brown on back.

___CONDITION: A fine copy, internally bright and free of prior owner markings, text block is straight and square, covers are clean; overall a fine copy. Slipcase is fine; like new.

___CITATION: BCC no. 195.

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