Creole, by Lucille Iremonger, (First Novel Library No. 133, Hutchinson & Co. (Publishers) LTD, London, (1950), 224 pp.

Lucille d'Oyen Iremonger, (1915-1989) was a Jamaican writer and politician, active in the United Kingdom. She was born to Ivy Lucille (Joseph) Parks and Basil Oscar Parks in Kingston, Jamaica. Both parents were born in Jamaica; her paternal grandparents, however, were from England and Scotland. Her father was managing director of the Jamaica Times, a literary paper edited by Thomas MacDermot (aka Tom Redcam, the first poet laureate of Jamaica). She won a scholarship to St Hugh's College, Oxford, where she met Tom Iremonger. They married in 1939, and she moved with him to the then–British colonies of Gilbert and Ellice Islands and Fiji, before returning to Britain. There she wrote her first book, A Bigger Life, an account of the author's life in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (1948). This was followed in short-suit by many other works, including the novels Creole (1951), The Cannibals (1952) short stories such as one collected in the Ernest Carr anthology Caribbean Anthology of Short Stories published in 1953 by Una Marson's Jamaica-based Pioneer Press, The Young Traveller in the West Indies (1955), a collection of Caribbean folktales for children (1956), the novel The Ghosts of Versailles (1956), The Young Traveller in the South Seas (1959), and the historical works Love and the Princesses (1960), And His Charming Lady (1961), Yes, My Darling Daughter (1964) and The Fiery Chariot (1970). The last was an influential book addressing the many British prime ministers who were illegitimate or orphaned as children. And His Charming Lady was a semi-autobiographical work about her position as the wife of a Member of Parliament. In 1978, she produced the third published biography of the 4th Earl of Aberdeen, British Prime Minister 1851-5.  At the 1961 London County Council election, Iremonger was elected to represent Norwood for the Conservative Party, serving until the council's abolition three years later.

This is a near fine copy of her very scarce first novel, Creole, published in 1950.  In red cloth with black title on the spine and the publisher’s name in black on the front cover.  Slight bumping of spine ends and light age toning on endpapers.  Otherwise in excellent condition for its age.  It is inscribed by the author “For a far better teller of tales---Lucile Iremonger 23rd March 1950”  The unclipped illustrated DJ has mild edge wear and some chipping at the corners, but is overall in very good condition.  No other copies at all currently in the market, much less inscribed with dust jacket.

$395, but on hold for a customer

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