WODEHOUSE, P.G. Laughing Gas.

A Hollywood Rescue Mission

WODEHOUSE, P.G. Laughing Gas. London: Herbert Jenkins. 1936.

8vo. Publisher’s dark red cloth, lettered in black to upper board and spine, top-edge red, illustrated dust-jacket by ‘Abbey’ priced at 7/6 to spine; pp. 311, [1 (blank)], [8 (publisher’s advertisements); closed tear to front flap of jacket (c. 70 mm), chipping to head and tail of spine leading to some loss at head affecting title (c. 5 x 40 mm), red top-edge a little faded, a few light spots to edges of textblock; very good.

First edition in book form, first printing of this comic novel set amid the glamour and chaos of the film industry.

Reggie Swithin is dispatched to Hollywood on the delicate task of retrieving Aunty Clara’s wayward son, Eggy, who has once again found himself in trouble. Reggie’s efforts plunge him into the colourful and unpredictable world of early 1930s Hollywood.

The novel was initially serialised in This Week in the US between 24 March and 28 April 1935, and in the UK in Pearson’s Magazine between August and October 1935. The first edition in book form was published in the UK on 25 September 1936 and was followed by the US edition on 19 November 1936.

Mcllvaine A56a.

SKU: 2126329