Presenting Lily Mars

Garden City: Doubleday Doran, 1933. Hardcover. Near Fine/Very Good. First edition. A small stain on the copyright page (and the facing dedication page), a little smudging to the boards, a near fine copy in a partially price-clipped, very good plus dustwrapper with a small chip at the crown and light edgewear. Nicely Inscribed by the author to his close friend, and occasional co-author, Harry Leon Wilson: "For H.L., who may be reminded of something or somebody, here and there - N.B.T. Aug. 26, 1933. Kennebunkport." Interestingly, Tarkington signs using his true first initial "N" for his real first name "Newton," which he seldom did - perhaps he did so as a lighthearted jab at Wilson, who often went by the name "H. Leon Wilson." The novel was bought by MGM as a dramatic vehicle for Lana Turner, but the script turned out to be too lighthearted and Norman Taurog's 1943 film version was instead a musical, showcasing Judy Garland as the small-town girl who impresses Broadway producer Van Heflin. A great association copy: Tarkington and Wilson collaborated on a number of plays early in their careers, several of which were filmed, probably most notably, *The Man From Home* in 1914 (and re-filmed again in 1922), one of the earliest feature films directed by Cecil B. De Mille. Another collaboration was *Cameo Kirby*, filmed first in 1914, but most notably by John Ford in 1923 with John Gilbert, Alan Hale, and Jean Arthur. Wilson, who was married to Rose O'Neill (creator of the Kewpie Doll), wrote several other books that were filmed, including *Merton of the Movies, Ruggles of Red Gap*, and *Bunker Bean*. Over sixty films were made from Tarkington's works, including *The Magnificent Ambersons.*.