by Fielding, A.

Published in 1934 by A.L. Burt Company, New York, Chicago
Binding: Hardback
Condition: Very Good+
Comments: One of the great mysteries of A. Fielding’s The Cautley Mystery could be…who exactly is A. Fielding? Library of Congress catalog entries for Fielding’s books parenthetically say “A.” is short for “Archibald,” but instead of the one initial, Fielding sometimes published using the name “A.E. Fielding,” The general consensus is that all the variations are pseudonyms. But for whom? In his blog, “The Passing Tramp,” Curtis Evans posits—only slightly tongue in cheek—that it is actually Agatha Christie; more seriously, he is certain that A. Fielding is an English woman of Christie’s class and set. Which could be why Fielding’s works, and the detective in most of her stories, Chief Inspector Pointer, ring some Christie bells with readers.

Fielding produced 25 mysteries between 1924 and 1944, so The Cautley Mystery, published in 1934, comes right in when she (if Fielding was, indeed, a “she”) was at the peak of her powers. It was released three times in America in 1934: once in this edition, once by H.C. Kinsey & Co. Inc. (which A.L. Burt Company acknowledges), and once with a slightly different title, The Cautley Conundrum, for the Crime Club, Ltd. by W. Collins Sons & Co., Ltd., of London. This copy is in excellent condition. The text block is tight and solid and there are no lose or missing pages. Except for a penciled bookseller’s price on the upper corner of the front end paper, there are no marks or writing. Three pages have small fold-down creases but no tears. The cover and spine are unblemished, with hardly any discernible shelf wear. Altogether, this is a very good copy of a little known example of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. See our photos.

Seller Inventory #: 0000487