Bright Morrow

London: John Crowther, 1947. Hardcover. Very Good/poor. London: John Crowther, 1947. Hardcover. Very Good/poor. Hardback. 1st Edition. Very Good/Poor. Derek Neville (1911-1976), wrote using similar themes to his contemporaries, Wells and Orwell, but has has been overshadowed by these two literary giants and largely forgotten. Yet, 'Bright Morrow', set in the 1980s, with the world divided into two armed camps, was published two years before Orwell's 'Nineteen Eighty-Four', and outlined an almost Wellsian Utopia that enthusiasts of H.G.'s work would instantly recognise and feel comfortable with. Neville visualizes a future where a minority of democratic peoples of the world are opposed to the countless millions of hate-blinded, displaced and dispossessed that he calls, the Desserpoans. Both sides are armed with what we'd term today 'weapons of mass destruction', and a clash to the death betwen them seems inevitable. Yet, there is a way of escape - a reasoned, calm and enlightened way, which not only preserves the world, but heralds the birth of an age of harmony and understanding. The author handles this theme with distinction and sincerity, building from the quiet, rural setting of the opening chapter, to the tremendous climax which marks its closing scenes. Well worth reading for enthusiasts of science-fiction and Utopian worlds. Contains 157 pages, 22 x 14cm. Red cloth boards with gilt spine titles and publisher's logo blind-stamped in bottom-right corner. The dust jacket is poor, made from very thin post-war economy paper, and showing several repaired cuts and nicks. Internally, shows previous owner's signature and large 'remainder' mark on front endpaper. Also has small typed label on this page, with the author's name and his address in Norfolk. Some have suggested this denotes a copy owned by the author at some stage. However, Neville and his wife ran a vegetarian guest-house from that address, and it seems more likey to denote a copy sold by the Neville's to one of their guests. Apart from these faults, the book is in very good condition internally: bright, clean and unmarked in excellent bindings. 400g