"Her Royal Highness Woman And His Majesty Cupid" by Max O'Rell, published by Abbey, New York, 1901. First American Edition. O'Rell books were simultaneously published in London, Paris, and New York.

Hard boards, original cream-pink cloth, gold lettering on front board and spine [fading to boards and spine: see photos]; 5.1/4" x 8"; stamp of John Griff Edwards on front endpaper and 'Contents' page, one small surface damage of the front endpaper, portrait of the author with a facsimile signature frontispiece, tissue guard; 311 pages, the page edges are rough [untrimmed], a little foxing, very good condition.

The author provides his observations about men and women, which may help us to understand each other better. The book belongs in the series of O'Rell's humorous observations dealing with trans-cultural gender relations.

Contents include:

"Chapter I; Advice to the Man Who Wants to Marry; What should attract him in matrimony -- At what age should people get married? -- Be superior to your wife in everything". "Chapter XXIX; The Liberty of Anglo-Saxon Women; The mistakes made by foreigners -- Misconstructions -- Educational systems -- Girls do not lose their charm by independence". "Chapter XXXVIII; On Mothers-in-Law; How to deal with them -- Difference between a misfortune and an accident -- 'That will spoil the whole thing' -- Shoot her!"

"There are men who complain that roses have thorns. They should be grateful to know that thorns have roses." [p.311]

Max O'Rell was the pen name of Leon Paul Blouet (1847-1903), French author and journalist. O'Rell was born in Avranches, Normandy but moved to London in 1872 to work as a journalist. In 1874 he obtained a post as senior master of French at the prestigious St Paul's London boys' school. Since 1883, he published a series of books containing collections of amusing anecdotes about morals and manners. His humorous texts dealing with trans-cultural gender relations were particularly successful.

Provenance:

From the library of John Griff Edwards, Portsmouth, Virginia.

John Griff Edwards (1870-1912) belonged to the old established settler family in Virginia. His father and uncles served in the Army of Northern Virginia during the Civil War. The grandfather, LeRoy Griffin Edwards (1804-1866), was the president of the Virginia Convention of 1864. John's wife, Mrs. J. Griff Edwards founded and led the first of the United Confederate Choirs of America (1907). After that she was elected the 'Commander in Chief of the United Confederate Choirs'. In 1911 she published a volume titled "Echoes From Dixie A Collection of Songs Used in the South."

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