Soldiers' Pay. by FAULKNER, William - 1930

London: Chatto & Windus,, 1930. First UK edition, second impression. With the author's signed presentation inscription to the title page, "William Faulkner for Else 11 Dec 1950". Signed and dated (1938) on the front free endpaper by the writer and journalist Thorsten Jonsson (1910-1950). Faulkner met Else Jonsson at the Nobel Prize ceremony in Sweden in December 1950. She was the recent widow of Thorsten Jonsson the journalist and critic who had been instrumental in getting Faulkner published in Sweden. On the night of the Nobel dinner 11th December - Faulkner walked Else home. He inscribed whatever copies of his books she had in the apartment and the two began a passionate affair which lasted several years. The couple met several times in Paris. Faulkner destroyed her letters to him but his side of the correspondence is one of the fullest and most remarkable extant. Faulkner's relationship with Else Jonsson was undoubtedly the most significant of his later life. Octavo. Original tan cloth, titles to spine in red. Text somewhat browned, first gathering a little sprung. Very good.