Maisie Ward — Gilbert Keith Chesterton

London, Sheed & Ward, 1943. First edition. Cloth. A very smart copy of the first edition of this early biography of one of England"s most distinctive literary and religious figures, written by a friend and fellow Catholic intellectual. In the publisher's original red cloth binding.  First edition. Complete with the original unclipped dust wrapper.   Illustrated with twelve plates, including a monochrome frontispiece, and two colour plates. Collated, complete.  A substantial biography of the English writer, journalist and Christian apologist G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936), published seven years after his death. Drawing upon personal correspondence, interviews and her own friendship with Chesterton, Ward traces his life from childhood and early literary ambitions through his marriage to Frances Blogg, conversion to Catholicism, and his increasing influence.  Maisie Ward (1889-1975) was an English Catholic writer and co-founder, with her husband Frank Sheed, of the publishing house Sheed & Ward. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Externally, very smart. Slight rubbing and bumping to extremities. Dust wrapper, very smart. Slight edge wear to extremities resulting in the odd small chip, crease, and closed tear, more so to spine ends. Slight sunning to spine. Light rubbing to wraps. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and clean with very light age toning. One or two very minor spots and handling marks. Near Fine . Ill.: None Stated. Near Fine/Very Good Indeed.