"Smith's London Journal Now first published from the original manuscript" by H. Allen Smith, published by Doubleday & Company, Garden City, New York, 1952. First Edition, First Printing with "First Edition" stated on the copyright page.

Dust jacket with original price of $3.00 on the front flap is protected in old mylar cover; hard boards, original publisher's black cloth spine with gold lettering; greenish/gray colored endpapers; 5.3/4" x 8.3/4"; 288 pages including two-page English-American Glossary, slightly darkened paper, very good condition.

"The funniest read ever"

"Smith's London Journal describes his visit to England in the autumn of 1951 ..to study the "English character," which he'd heard was the most admirable in the world. On arrival in London, life becomes confusing for Mr Smith, but he does his best to cope with English money ("thrupnys and sixpuntses and arf crowns and bobs and double bobs"), English vocabulary ("A saloon is a sedan, it is possible to be arrested in England for driving while drunk in a saloon."... He watches a cricket match, a snooker tournament and the dog races; attends a session at the Bow Street Courts and an election candidate's campaign meeting; buys a "weatherproof" from Burberry's and tries to purchase the tie of the National Playing Fields Association because it's the favourite of the Duke of Edinburgh; attempts to master the art of talking Cockney and asks how to address Lords and Ladies, as the only other titled people he'd previously met were "Grand Dragon Wimble of the Klan and Miss America of 1937." Meanwhile, his wife Nelle visits historical sites, tries to start up a conversation with a King's Guardsman ("CAN YOU TALK TO PEOPLE?"), and gets into arguments with monarchists... [from a review]

US: Priority (c 2-4 days) -------- $12.50
Canada: 1st Class (c 2-6 weeks) -- $30.50
World: 1st Class (c 2-7 weeks) --- $40.50