The Annexation Society
By J.S. Fletcher
Published by Ward, Lock And Co Limited: London 1916
Scarce J.S. Fletcher Title - Probably 1st Edition
"This 1916 Ward, Lock & Co. edition of The Annexation Society presents J.S. Fletcher's early foray into political intrigue and international conspiracy, written just before he rose to fame as one of the leading crime and mystery writers of the early 20th century. Set between London and Paris in the tense atmosphere of pre-war Europe, the novel unfolds through a chain of mysterious thefts, coded messages and clandestine meetings as a group of well-connected figures become entangled in the machinations of a shadowy organisation. Fletcher's narrative style—already showing the crisp dialogue and keen pacing that would later define his detective fiction—creates a lively blend of espionage, pursuit and deception.
The story follows aristocrats, journalists and socialites swept into a widening plot centred on the theft of the "Tsar's Cross," a dangerous international secret and the elusive intentions of the society that gives the book its name. Through shifting alliances, hidden motives and a trail of misdirection spanning fashionable hotels, private homes, postal services and cross-Channel travel, Fletcher builds a web of suspicion that gradually tightens around his central characters. The final chapters reveal the society's true operations and the personal motivations behind its schemes, culminating in a resolution characteristic of Fletcher's talent for tightening suspense to the last pages.
This copy is attractively bound in the original dark green embossed cloth with gilt titles, featuring a strong, clean interior and a striking frontispiece illustration. The book was printed in 1916, making it an early wartime issue and an appealing example of Fletcher's transitional period before his major success in detective fiction. A scarce survival in this condition, it will appeal to collectors of early 20th-century thrillers, enthusiasts of Fletcher's pre-crime career, and readers interested in Edwardian and wartime adventure fiction."
Light wear and fading to covers and spine as shown. Small, neat bookplate otherwise an unmarked copy. Frontis present. Pages clean and well presented. An excellent copy of a scarce title in very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
