South Wind, in Two Volumes

Chicago: Argus Books, 1929. Limited Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good/No Jacket. 0x0x0. Austen, John. Fourth American edition, illustrated, one of 2000 copies (Woolf A19l), and the only edition to include John Austen's illustrations. Spine and edges toned, boards lightly rubbed. 1929 Hard Cover. 288; 300 pp. 8vo. Navy blue cloth, gilt titles, gilt top page ridge. The author's most famous novel, originally published in 1917. This version includes beautiful full-page color illustrations and 50 chapter headings by John Austen specially commissioned for this edition (the illustrations for the first illustrated edition were done by Valenti Angelo). Austen's style varied from resembling the works of Beardsley to featuring the hallmarks of Art Deco. The book is set on an imaginary island called Nepenthe, located off the coast of Italy in the Tyrrhenian Sea, but is clearly a fictionalized version of Capri. Due to its frank approach to morality and sexuality, it was somewhat controversial.