The Martian A Novel, Du Maurier, George. Published by Harper & Brothers, London & New York.1898. First British Edition. viii,471pp. with frontis portrait of Du Maurier with facsimile signature and 48 text illustrations by Author. Dark blue coated cloth boards, beveled edges, gilt illustration front, gilt titles, top edge gilt the others deckle, black endpapers. Contents are in fine condition without markings etc. Rubbing to tail and head of spine and lower corners; spine not quite square although binding is tight and secure.
The Martian is a romantic fantasy in which an earthling becomes possessed by the spirit of a female extraterrestrial. Considered as one of the earliest science-fiction works, the book was published posthumously in 1897. George Du Maurier (1834-1896), was a celebrated novelist and illustrator whose work ran regularly in Punch. He illustrated books by the great authors of his day including Thackeray, Wilkie Collins, Elizabeth Gaskell, Thomas Hardy, and Henry James with whom he was good friends. Maurier was also the grandfather of famed author Daphne Du Maurier. His most known novel was Trilby, which introduced the evil manipulator Svengali to the world.
