Magic and the Magician: E Nesbit and her Children's Books (Signed and Inscribed Association Copy)

First edition, first impression. 160pp plus 15 pages plate illustrations. 8vo. Original green cloth boards with gilt titles to spine (lightly rubbed at extremities, small white mark on front). Unclipped dust jacket, lightly chapped along edges with minor loss at head of spine. Scattered spotting on endpapers. Half-title page inscribed "To Rita, for her birthday 1958 With my love, Noel". The recipient was Rita Smith who, for many years, was the author's secretary and typist. DJ now protected in archival quality clear film sleeve. In Magic and the Magician, Noel Streatfeild, herself one of the most popular authors of 20th century children's books, traces the early life of another great children's writer - E Nesbit - and discovers some of the reasons why Nesbit's books have a particular magic.