DR. MABUSE: MASTER OF MYSTERY: A NOVEL ... Authorized Translation by Lilian A. Clare.
London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., [1923]. Octavo, pp. [1-4] 5-324, original blue cloth, front and spine panels stamped in red. First edition in English. Exploits of a super criminal whose weapon of choice is hypnosis. A translation of DR. MABUSE, DER SPIELER (Berlin: Ullstein, 1920), which appears to be Jacques' only book about the sinister doctor (Jacques shelved a sequel in the 1930s). A very popular silent film based on the novel, directed by Fritz Lang from a script by Thea von Harbou, was produced in 1922. There were many filmed sequels by Lang and others. "The new [German] fantasies of the 1920's often feature exalted, superhuman characters who rebel against discipline and the order of the world, who acknowledge no law, and do what they please. Power is their aim, the manipulation and control of their fellow beings, and a feverish spirit is apparent in these books, of which Norbert Jacques' DR. MABUSE, DER SPIELER is perhaps a typical example." - Franz Rottensteiner, "German-Language Fantasy Since 1900," Survey of Modern Fantasy Literature, pp. 2403-2404 Bleiler (1948), p. 160. Reginald 07762. Hubin (1994), p. 435. Not in Bloch (2002; 2010). Some foxing throughout, offsetting to free end papers, light rubbing to corner tips and spine ends, spine a bit age darkened, purple stains to rear cover, a solid, very good copy. (23127). Item #23127
Price: $750.00