< Back

Macleod, Fiona [i.e. Sharp, William].
The Mountain Lovers [cover design by Aubrey Beardsley].
Publisher: John Lane, Vigo St; Roberts Bros., London; Boston;
Date of Publication: 1895
Stock Code: 15516
First edition. Octavo, pp., [viii], 241, [1] blank, 12 advertisements, 16 further advertisements. Publisher’s original dark blue cloth; titled in gilt to spine; titled in gold ink within ornamental frame to upper cover; publisher’s mark stamped in gold ink to lower board. Former ownership inscription of one ‘B. Sm. Leflay [?]’ in ink to half-title. Joints and extremities rubbed; corners rubbed; nicks to spine-tips; hinges cracked but holding. Lacks the front free end-paper; otherwise internally clean and in good order. A serviceable copy. Number xvii in John Lane’s ‘keynote’ series, which championed avant garde, Decadent, and controversial works of literature. This volume is a novel by Scottish literary biographer, member of the Hermetic Order, and advocate of the Celtic Revival William Sharp, writing pseudonymously as Fiona MacLeod. Sharp created the MacLeod persona after falling intensely in love with Edith Wingate Rinder, and claimed her as inspiration. Sharp’s persona was elaborate and almost secret in his lifetime: he would dictate his ‘MacLeod’ texts to his sister, whose hand would then pass as an authentic manuscript. £200.00