The Perfume Of The Lady In Black

GASTON LEROUX

Publication: Brentano's, 1909, New York

First U. S. edition. First published in French in 1907 as Le Parfum de la Dame en Noir. A sequel to Leroux's 1908 novel The Mystery of the Yellow Room, featuring locked-room elements. Basis for the 1931 French film directed by Marcel L'Herbier, and the 1974 giallo-horror film directed by Francesco Barilli. Former owner's neat bookplate on front pastedown sheet and a tiny erasure hole on half title page, else a fine, bright copy in the elusive dust jacket reinforced at a few points on the verso, with light chips and nicks to the spine ends, corners and extremities, and a small loss towards the center of the rear panel, affecting two words. Considered to be one of two masterpieces written by the author, (the other being THE MYSTERY OF THE YELLOW ROOM), this story finds the reporter-detective Joseph Rouletabille, his confidant, Sainclair, who also narrates the story, Mathilde Strangerson (the LADY IN BLACK), Robert Darzac, and the notorious criminal Ballmeyer, (alias Jean Roussel and Frederic Larsan) dealing with the attempted murder of Mathilde Strangerson. The identity of the criminal is hidden from the rest of the characters until uncovered by Rouletabille along with the mystery of how the criminal entered a hermetically sealed room to make murderous attempts and escape thereafter. Adey 1202 says, "The appearance of a body within locked quarters with all persons within the area accounted for." An attractive presentation of a choice item, especially in the rare dust jacket. Housed in a leather clamshell case with titles stamped in gilt on the spine. A Haycraft/Queen Cornerstone title.

Inventory Number: 48595