The Powers of Light.

Presentation copy. Inscribed by the author to second blank: 'Christine, Michael + Boris / with love from Naomi'.

The 'Haldane polymath' Naomi Mitchison CBE (1897-1999) was a prolific Scottish author and activist, with links to Fabian, Labour and Scottish Nationalist movements. Hailing from a family of privilege and pre-eminent scientists, she is best known for The Corn King and the Spring Queen (1931), celebrated both as a key work in Scottish magical realism and as a significant contribution to twentieth century historical fiction. A talented author who wrote across many genres and forms, she was also a good friend of J.R.R. Tolkien and one of the proof readers of The Lord of the Rings.

First edition, inscribed by the author; 8vo; 7 coloured plates on thick coloured paper by Eric Kennington, slight age-toning to leaves, otherwise unmarked internally, 'First Pharos Editions' list tipped in; publisher's orange cloth, blue lettering to spine and upper cover, pictorial endpapers, with the unclipped pictorial dust-jacket, somewhat toned, loss to top edge of front panel (affecting title), slight loss to head and foot of spine; very good overall.