This collection of 8 stories set in the imagined world of Wympland would have delighted the young lady who received it from her father in 1910. Written in a style that any child would enjoy, and charmingly illustrated by Alice B Woodward, it is absolutely 'of its time'.
Evelyn Jane Sharp (1869–1955) born the 9th of 11 children, and only minimally educated, was clearly blessed with huge intelligence, as she wrote much fiction for children, and several novels, before becoming a key figure in two major British women's suffrage societies, the militant Women's Social and Political Union and the United Suffragists, in the early 1900s. She helped found the latter and became editor of "Votes for Women" during the First World War.
Our book is in good condition for its age and probable history of use, bound in olive-green cloth with a lively pictorial decoration of Wymps in yellow, covering the whole exterior, and title etc in white/yellow lettering on the front and spine. The spine lettering is a little worn. The exterior is generally good, but with bumped corners and shelf wear to top & tail of the spine - one 1 cm tear at the bottom front spine angle. All page edges tinted green. Inside, the sewn binding is generally firm (one loose blank page only, between front fep and halftitle page), and pages are generally clean and bright but with occasional foxing. Rear endpaper is a little browned/?foxed, and the reverse of the fep is stamped at the top R/H corner 'W H Smith & Son, 186 Strand, W C' - the stamp has cut through the paper, but not completely. The front fep has a neat ink-written gift inscription "To dear Peggy With love from Father 14th October 1910". The 8 pen & ink illustrations by Alice B Woodward are delightful, and two have been partially coloured by (presumably) the owner - but with care.