CRACKANTHORPE, Hubert. Sentimental Studies, and a set of village tales. FIRST EDITION. William Heinemann. 1895
Half title, 2pp ads., 16pp cata. New e.ps. Orig. olive green cloth, lettered in black, spine lettered in gilt; sl. rubbed & dulled, extremities worn. Booksellers ticket of W.H. Smith on rear pastedown.
¶Includes a number of short stories divided into Sentimental Studies and A Set of Village Tales. Hubert Crackanthorpe, 1870-1896, short story writer and novelist, was married to fellow author Leila Macdonald; their marriage was not a happy one and they both had public affairs - him with Richard Le Gallienne's sister Sissie Welch. Macdonald accused Crackanthorpe of giving her syphilis and the two were on the verge of divorce when he disappeared on the 4th of November, 1896. His body was found in the Seine six weeks later so badly decomposed that he was only identified by his family ring and a cufflink; he was 26 years old. The Crackanthorpes were an influential family and they spun the story to place the blame firmly on Leila Macdonald, claiming that he was driven to suicide after she told him she was leaving him and returning to England.