Fu Manchu's Bride

319 pages. Small octavo (7 3/4" x 5 1/4") bound in original publisher's black cloth with red lettering to spine and cover in original jacket. From the library of Larry McMurtry. First American edition.
A strange epidemic is sweeping the Riviera. In desperation the French authorities call upon Dr Petrie to find an answer. During this crisis, a mysterious siren on the beach captivates Alan Sterling. She tells him her name only – Fleurette – and flees. When Petrie's lab cultures show up sleeping sickness and plague, they call in Sir Denis Nayland Smith. It is not long before their investigations lead them to Fleurette – and to Dr Fu Manchu.
From the library of Larry Jeff McMurtry (1936-2021) with his book plate to front pastedown, was an American novelist, essayist, bookseller and screenwriter whose work was predominantly set in either the Old West or contemporary Texas. His novels included Horseman, Pass By (1962), The Last Picture Show (1966), and Terms of Endearment (1975), which were adapted into films. Films adapted from McMurtry's works earned 34 Oscar nominations (13 wins).
While at Stanford, McMurtry became a rare-book scout. During his years in Houston, he managed a book store called the Bookman. In 1969, he moved to the Washington, D.C., area. In 1970 with two partners, he started a bookshop in Georgetown, which he named Booked Up. In 1988, he opened another Booked Up in Archer City. It became one of the largest antiquarian bookstores in the United States, carrying between 400,000 and 450,000 titles. Citing economic pressures from Internet bookselling, McMurtry came close to shutting down the Archer City store in 2005, but chose to keep it open after great public support. He maintained his personal private collection at his home in Archer City.

Condition: McMurtry's book plate to front pastedown. Corners bumped and rubbed, some rubbing to spine ends. Jacket spine ends chipped, edge wear with closed tears and small chips, front hinge rubbed, front fold over flap edge chipped else very good in about very good jacket.