Ladies In Crime. A Collection Of Detective Stories By English And American Writers

QUEEN,ELLERY [EDITED BY].

Publication: Faber & Faber, 1947, London

First U.K. edition. Originally published in U.S. in 1943 using the title, THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES. There are differences between the U.K. and the U.S. editions in that some authors' stories are not included in the U.K. edition, namely the stories of Baroness Orcy and Edgar Wallace. Vertical crease to front fly leaf, else near fine in dust jacket with minor wear to the spine ends and lightly soiled on the rear cover. An important anthology as well as an early one that includes stories by Eberhart, Palmer, Rinehart, Footner, Starrett, Holmes [Boucher], Christie, Hume, Bangs, Vickers, et al. The introduction is quite informative. Queen says, "the first true detective in literature cracked open his eggshell in 1841, emerging 'fully grown and armed to the teeth.' Out of Poe's immortal rib [no pun intended] came the world's first woman detective---a full twenty years later." Queen goes on to say, "again obeying the primeval laws of nature--though less laggard, let it be noted, in matters pertaining to sin--woman came second. In all these years no one has collected in one 'feminology' the best exploits of our many distaff detectives, matronly murderesses, and petticoat pilferers." Thus does Mr. Queen explain this fascinating collection. Also contains Frederick Irving Anderson's The Jorgensen Plates, a publishing story featuring the technical aspects of publishing in England and the USA.

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