The Dennis Wheatley 'Museum' - DW's Library

Dennis Wheatley's Library - modern first editions
Francis Iles

DW’s copy of ‘Malice Aforethought’ (1931)

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DW owned two copies of Anthony Berkeley Cox’s novel ‘Malice Aforethought’, written under the name of Francis Iles.

One was this, the first edition, first impression of the rare hardback issue; and other was the more common paperback issue that came out earlier in the same year.

The novel is an early and important example of the ‘inverted detective story’, where the murderer’s identity is revealed in the opening lines of the tale.

This copy is currently on offer at London booksellers Peter Harrington for £6,250.

It was priced in the Blackwell’s catalogue at £15

References : Officer & Temporary Gentleman page 149