A Ring of Roses.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1965. First edition, first printing. Full maroon paper, spine titled in gilt, top edge stained red, in Jenifer Armour dust jacket (16s. net). Lean, else fine, in near fine dust jacket with toned spine and edges, small pink stains over patch of light discoloration to top edge verso, in mylar cover. Item #238063
MELDING GRIMM AND BIOLOGICAL WARFARE
John Blackburn, master of horror, takes the 1960s fear of biological warfare to new levels as a Billy Fenwick disappears off a train in East Germany and is returned home--only to erupt into buboes. The bubonic plague may have been sent by the the Communists. Or by something more horrifying and bewildering.
As an antiquarian bookseller himself, Blackburn's exposure to a variety of genres is obvious as he expertly weaves together elements of political intrigue and science fiction to update Grimm's fairytales for his Cold War audience. With much of his work going out of print before his death in 1985, this first edition of A Ring of Roses is a haunting addition to any horror collection.
Price: $125.00