London, Jarrolds, 1951. First edition, first impression. Hardback. A very good copy. Inscribed by the author to the front endpaper. "Machines turn on their makers having acquired a life of their own and an ambition to be rulers of creation." [Barron]. A little bumping and wear to the spine tips, some toning to the lower jacket plate, spine faded, some spotting to the block edges. Slight lean. Lord Dunsany (1878-1957) was a prolific writer and one of the architects of what has now cemented itself as the fantasy genre. His work, along with Eddison, Macdonald and Morris, was key in creating the channels from folklore and mythology to entirely synthetic secondary worlds. Cover art by Ley Kenyon [11804, Hyraxia Books].