“THAT MYSTERIOUS FIRE WHICH LURKS IN EVERYTHING”: FIRST EDITION OF DICKENS’ FINAL, UNFINISHED BOOK

DICKENS, Charles. The Mystery of Edwin Drood. London: Chapman & Hall, 1870. Octavo, contemporary three-quarter brown calf gilt, red morocco spine label, marbled endpapers. $2500.

First edition in book form of Dickens’ last novel, a masterful murder mystery left unfinished at his death.

Charles Dickens' novels regularly revolved around masks, dual identities and other secrets. The Mystery of Edwin Drood, however, "enlarged and strengthened [such matters] in the pursuit of a larger vision, a vision which depicts the 'lanes of light' between the dark pillars of a crypt and which reflects upon 'that mysterious fire which lurks in everything" (Ackroyd, 1056). Unfortunately, at the time of his death on June 9, 1870, Dickens had written only six parts of the book, three of which had been published. The remaining three were published posthumously. Dickens had so closely guarded the plot's outlines, even from his closest friends, that to this day the identity of Drood's killer remains a topic for speculation, discussion and debate. "There are few of [Dickens'] stories which are superior in the matter of composition… one of the best unfinished mystery stories in literature" (Eckel, 96). This tantalizing tale has been adapted in film and television several times, and even served as the basis of a 1985 Broadway musical in which the cast invited the audience to vote on possible conclusions. With frontispiece portrait of Dickens, vignette title page and 12 engraved plates after designs by Luke Fildes. Gimbel A155. Eckel, 96-98. Smith, 115-17.

Scattered light foxing; calf lightly rubbed. An extremely good copy.