The Other Eye of Osiris

First edition, first impression.  254pp, with occasional black and white illustrations.  Black cloth boards, gilt motif on upper panel and gilt lettering to spine.  8vo.  There is a small, mild mark on the cloth on the upper panel, else volume is neat, clean, bright and tight throughout.  In its original unclipped dust jacket, lightly bumped on edges and a little shelf worn.  Dust wrapper now protected in an archival-quality Mylar sleeve, fitted without the use of tape or adhesives.

A scarce edition of R Austin Freeman’s previously unpublished draft of a work which was published in 1911 as The Eye of Orisis. It includes illustrations, a monochrome portrait of Austin Freeman and an afterword comparing this version of the Dr Thorndyke story to the 1911 published edition. 

Richard Austin Freeman (1862- 1943) was an English crime- writer. His claim to have invented the crime fiction genre known as ‘inverted’ detective stories – where the commission of the crime, and usually the identity of the perpetrator, is revealed at the beginning, with the plot then focussing on how the detective gets his man – has some substance but is not uncontested. He was prolific, popular and wielded much influence over the crime genre, dominating scientific detective fiction for a good part of the early 20th century. His novels continue to be read by a diminished but loyal audience and have been translated onto stage, screen and radio many times.