Books

London: Jonathan Cape. 1950. First edition, first printing. First edition, first printing. Recent full green crushed morocco, titles in silver on red morocco label inset to the spine. Hand sewn endbands in green and red. All edges gilt. A fine copy, the binding without wear, the contents clean throughout and without previous owner's inscriptions or stamps. Housed in a bespoke red cloth solander case. A beautiful example of the true first edition, preceding the American (Scribners) printing by four days. Further details and images for any of the items listed are available on request. Lucius Books welcomes direct contact with our customers.

Across the River and Into the Trees is a novel by American writer Ernest Hemingway, published by Charles Scribner's Sons in 1950, after first being serialized in Cosmopolitan magazine. The title derives from the last words of U.S. Civil War Confederate General Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson: “Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees.” Hemingway's novel chronicles the experiences of Colonel Richard Cantwell, an aging officer in the U.S. Army, during a weekend duck-hunting trip in Italy. Reflecting on his past and his love affair with a young countess, Cantwell's narrative captures themes of love, war, youth, and age.

Detection of a first edition of 'Across the River and Into the Trees' can be confirmed by looking for the publishing details indicating 'Charles Scribner's Sons, 1950.' Additional points include checking for the 'A' on the copyright page, which Scribner's used at that time to denote first printings.