A few years ago my name was given to Mike as somebody who might be interested in the kind of books he publishes, ie - out of print, forgotten or unknown titles that are deserving of a second chance. There are many publisher out there now doing this and it is such a joy to leave the best seller lists and seek out something new waiting to be discovered.
Mike is based in South Australia and he publishes books lost to current readers from recent times a well as long ago, plus those which have a special meaning for him. The website is here so do please check it out.
At the moment I have awaiting my attention two titles by Ada Leverson - The Twelfth Hour and The Limit. About ten years ago I came across a title by this writer, The Little Otleys. This is a trilogy and I found one of those fantastic Virago editions with the Green covers which I love, in a jumble sale. I could not let it go even though I knew nothing about the author.
I soon discovered that Ada Leverson was a very close friend of Oscar Wilde. He called her his 'Sphinx' and introduced her to all his fashionable friends, the equivalent of today's A list no doubt: Aubrey Beardsley, Walter Sickert, John Singer Sargent, Mrs Patrick Campbell and Max Beerbohm. What a glittering array that must have been....
She sounds a wonderfully warm hearted woman when you read more about her and discover that during Wilde's trial she and her husband took him in and sheltered him. On his release from prison two years later, when he was shunned and ignored by all his previous friends, Ada was the first to visit him and apparently was greeted by Oscar with the words 'Sphinx how marvelous of you to know exactly the right hat to wear at seven o'clock in the morning to meet a friend who has been away'.
I admire those who stick by their friends in the face of rejection and disgrace and I felt my heart warm towards her even before I had read the Little Otleys and when I had finished it and LOVED it, I began to check for more by Ada Leverson. Two have recently been published by Mike Walmer.
The Twelfth Hour is set in one of those long golden Edwardian seasons in London and tells the story of Felicity and Sylvie Crofton and their brother Savile and their marriage and love life.
The Limit tells us about Valentina and Romer Wyburn - happily married, or so it seems but Valentina is fining her solid and devoted husband somewhat dull and starts an affair with an elegant but poor artist.
This is just a brief sketch of the outline as I have yet to read these two titles but they are on the top of my to Be read pile and I am looking forward to them.
Among other authors published by Mike are Saki (I read the Chronicles of Clovis and enjoyed. Sperb witty writing) Ronald Firbank and Max Beerbohm.
Mike is based in Australia but his books are distributed in the UK so there is no fear of heavy postage. I warmly recommend his website http://michaelwalmer.com and do urge you to take a look at his titles and authors. I think the word eclectic is the correct one to descrie the selection.
You will not be disappointed.
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