The Crock of Gold.

STEPHENS, James.

$975.00

Item Number: 148370

London: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1926.

Finely bound edition of this whimsical and philosophical novel. Octavo, bound in full green pictorial morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, tissue-guarded frontispiece, with illustrations and decorations by Thomas Mackenzie. In near fine condition.

The Crock of Gold by James Stephens is a rich and imaginative novel that merges Irish folklore with philosophical inquiry, offering a blend of whimsy, satire, and existential reflection. The narrative centers on a leprechaun, his mystical quest, and a philosopher who seeks deeper truths about life and happiness, engaging with themes of materialism, spirituality, and the tension between the mundane and the magical. Through its playful use of myth and the absurd, the novel critiques social conventions while also exploring profound questions about the nature of human existence. Often celebrated for its lyrical prose and surreal tone, The Crock of Gold stands as a key work in early 20th-century Irish literature, blending elements of both modernism and traditional folklore.