Product Details

The Land of Little Rain. By Mary Austin and printed in Boston by Houghton, Mifflin and Company. 1903 first edition. [11] + 281 pp. 8.5 x 6.5 . Hardcover full cloth. Overall fair, with light bubbling to cloth of front board. Light wear and losses at head and heel of spine. Cracking to front and rear hinges. Gilt lettering on exterior remains nicely preserved. Text block remains in good condition with light wear. Includes numerous small in-text sketches throughout, along with a small amount of full-page plates. General age-related toning to pages, along with periodic foxing and wear. Please see photographs and ask any questions prior to purchasing. A scarce piece, being the first edition of Mary Hunter Austin s (1868-1934) first and most popular book, which launched her consistent usage of the California desert as a setting for her works. This work describes, through interrelated essays, the flora, fauna, and human life and culture of the Owens Valley and the Mojave Desert of California.