Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Kenneth L. Roberts. Why Europe Leaves Home. The Bobbs-Merrill Company Publishers, [New York], 1922.
Price: US$253.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First edition in dark maroon cloth It is believed to have been Robert's personal copy, autographed on front fly leaf in ink "Kenneth L Roberts, Kennebunk Beach, July 28, 1926" and annotated with pencil comments on several pages as well as inked comments on the rear endpaper and rear board adjacent to pasted newspaper clippings There is no documented provenance for this belief, but the annotations appear in the same hand as the author's signature, and the nature of the comments appears authorial More research would be needed to confirm this however, so I am only offering this copy as a signed book, not necessarily the author's own This was Roberts' first book, based on his journalistic experiences during and just after World War I For those of us who grew up reading his many thrilling and thoroughly researched historical fiction works, such as Arundel, Northwest Passage and Oliver Wiswell, it is disappointing to find in this work that he was very anti-immigration and anti-Semitic Kenneth Lewis Roberts (1885 -1957) was an American writer of historical novels He worked first as a journalist, becoming nationally known for his work with the Saturday Evening Post from 1919 to 1928, and then as a popular novelist Born in Kennebunk, Maine, Roberts specialized in regionalist historical fiction, often writing about his native state and its terrain and also about other upper New England states and scenes For example, the main characters in Arundel and Rabble in Arms are from Kennebunkport (then called Arundel), the main character in Northwest Passage is from Kittery, Maine and has friends in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and the main character in Oliver Wiswell is from Milton, Massachusetts While a reporter for the Saturday Evening Post in the early 1920s, Roberts wrote many magazine articles that urged strong legal restrictions on immigration from eastern and southern Europe and from Mexico, warning of the dangers of immigration from places other than northwestern Europe His opinions and descriptions of other nationalities and races are difficult to read today, and would not be considered acceptable This book collects some of his Post articles, and is offered not to promote such views, but only as an historical record of the time 356 pp.
Seller: Stanley Louis Remarkable Books, Saint Charles, IL, U.S.A.
Roberts, Kenneth. Why Europe Leaves Home. The Bobbs-Merrill Company, New York, 1922.
Price: US$275.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Inscription on ffep reads "For Robert DeCourcy Ward,/ who labors with us in the Vineyard, / with the thanks and the sincere/ regard of his friend,/ Kenneth L. Roberts/ Washington, March 17, 1922," Ward was the President of the Anti-Immigration League at the time. Some fading to the spine but overall a very clean and blemish free copy sans the scarce DJ.
Seller: Wiggins Fine Books ABAA, ILAB, SNEAB, Shelburne Falls, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$850.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: First edition / First printing. Signed, autographed, inscribed. Spine slightly faded, minor wear at edges, slight foxing to first several pages, paper-clip outline on top of first 5 pages, newspaper clipping offsetting on pages 174 & 175, several pages throughout the book are also slightly foxed. This copy is from the library of author & politician, Louis A. Coolidge. Included in this book is a newspaper clipping relating to this publication (preserved in plastic folder), a letter dated July 26, 1922 from the librarian at the Milton Massachusetts Public Library thanking Mr. Coolidge for his donation of a copy of this book, and a 3 page handwritten letter from Kenneth Roberts to Coolidge. The Roberts letter is dated May 2 [1923?] and is a single fold, four-page letterhead from the Red Star Line's S.S. Lapland. The letter in part states: "Dear Louis: / We thank you for your / wire, letter and flowers. The latter, unfortunately, were delivered / either to York's wedding or to a / Jewish funeral." He continues about his plans to tour Europe, drinking scotch & wine, meeting later with "Lorimer", inviting Louis to join him for the World's Fair in Gothenburg (Goteburg), Sweden ("lots of strange drinks up there"), "I wish you would go to / writing - school. By the way, / Logan's no. isnt circle 766 as / you said. but circle 7663. I / insisted on having 766, and was / repeatedly connected with a lot / of Swedes who couldn't talk / or understand English. If / you want a good murderous / grouch, call 766 yourself a / few times." And Concludes: "I see Dawes has started / a rival organization to the / sentinals. More team work, . old son, more team work. / Who goes there? / Ken Roberts!". A great association copy with these two New England authors. Good, no dust jacket. 15 x 21cm. hard cover. 356pp. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾"
Seller: Vashon Island Books, Vashon, WA, U.S.A.