"An Episode of Sparrows" by Rumer Godden, published by Viking Press, New York. First Printing of the BOMSC edition with "First Published by the Viking Press November 1955" without any other printings listed on the copyright page. Printed by Wolff. Identical to the first printing of the Trade edition. The only mark of the BOMS is a small dot on the back board.

Hard boards, original beige cloth spine and green cloth boards, with black lettering on front on spine, black decoration on front board [a little soiling and wear], 5.1/2" x 8.1/4"; 247 pages, very good condition.

The novel focuses on children in Catford Street, a working-class London street of much stone and asphalt but only few green spots. A difficult young girl named Lovejoy Mason, living with the aspiring restaurateur and his wife with whom her irresponsible mother has left her, finds a packet of cornflower seeds and plants a small garden in a wrecked churchyard, filled with rubble from the Blitz.

"The short-and-sweet summary: in post WWII London, 11-year-old Lovejoy finds a packet of seeds, which gets her interested in gardening; she builds a secret garden in a bombed-out church and ends up transforming the lives of the people around her. [from a private review]<br
Margaret Rumer Godden OBE (1907-1998) was an English author of more than 60 fiction and non-fiction books. Nine of her works have been made into films, most notably "Black Narcissus" in 1947 and "The River" in 1951.

A few of her works were co-written with her elder sister, novelist Jon Godden, including "Two Under the Indian Sun", a memoir of the Goddens' childhood in a region of India now part of Bangladesh.

US: Priority (c.2-4 days) ------------ $12.50
Canada: 1st Class (c.2-6 weeks) ----- $28.50
World: 1st Class (c.2-8 weeks) ------ $42.50