[lovely copy, tight, square and clean with no discernible wear, attractive vintage bookplate on ffep; jacket has one small closed tear at top of front panel, otherwise just a touch of edgewear here and there and some light soiling to the rear panel]. Story of a young man who, since childhood, has hated the sight of pain, and is considered a coward by his father. "When, despite his loathing of suffering, he is drawn into the War, his taut nerves give way and he becomes obsessed with the conviction that he himself will never be killed, but that he will be kept alive to watch others die around him. Ironically enough the Armistice is declared the day after he deserts from the Army. It is only then that life begins for Michael, and his fear-ridden and sensitive youth retreats into the background before new experiences of great moment -- love and independence as a wage earner in post-War Italy." The British lesbian author Naomi Jacob (1889-1964) had been a teacher, a suffragette, a playwright and an actress, but ultimately achieved her greatest success, beginning in the mid-1920s, as author of some 75 popular novels, plus women's magazine series, advice books and at least one biography. She moved to Italy (where a significant portion of this book is set) in 1930, and at one time reportedly had an unrequited crush on Una Troubridge, longtime companion of Radclyffe Hall. (In Diana Souhami's biography of Hall, Ms. Jacob is described thusly: "She was Jewish, large, wore tweeds and clubbish ties and liked a drink.") She is remembered today best as -- well, actually, she's barely remembered at all.

Lesbian Writer World War I War Veterans Italy Cowardice