Denton Welch; Edith Sitwell [Editor] — Maiden Voyage

London, Routledge, 1946. Cloth. A beautifully illustrated early edition of Maiden Voyage, Welch's lyrical and introspective coming-of-age novel set between England and Shanghai. In the publisher's original cloth binding.This is a scarce, second printing of this work.This volume is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age novel and the author's literary debut, documenting his surroundings and travels, from the bleakness of English institutions to the vibrant strangeness of expat life in China.This volume features detailed designs for the title page and section borders created by Welch, including a drawn portrait frontispiece.Denton Welch (1915–1948) was an English writer and painter. Though he died young, he left a small but influential body of work. Maiden Voyage is widely considered his most famous and accessible book. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Externally, generally smart. The odd handling mark to boards. The odd slight spot of damp staining. Light soiling to perimeters. Spine slightly discoloured and faded. Slight rubbing and bumping to extremities. Previous owner's inscription to verso of frontispiece. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and clean, if slightly age toned, more so to fore edges of first and last few leaves. One or two spots. Very Good . Ill.: Denton Welch. Very Good .