WAKEFIELD, H. R. (1888-1964). Ghost Stories. London: Jonathan Cape/Florin, 1932. 8vo. 288, [12, ads] pp. Publisher's cloth lettered brown in original unclipped ("2s") dust jacket. FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING OF WAKEFIELD'S FOURTH COLLECTION, SCARCE IN JACKET.

Hailed by August Derleth as "the last major representative of a ghost story tradition that began with Sheridan Le Fanu," Wakefield, a master of the genre, published seven collections of supernatural fiction in his lifetime, including two with Derleth's Arkham House. This fourth collection, Florin Books no. 35, includes the "The Cairn," "Blind Man's Buff"[sic], "Look Up There!," "The Red Hand," "Knock! Knock! Who's There?," "Old Man's Beard," and others. In addition to the supernatural, Wakefield was greatly interested in real-world forensics and the "criminal mind," publishing two criminology studies and three detective novels. 

Light soiling and rubbing, marginal toning to inner flaps, minor edge wear. Discoloration to top and bottom of spine block, margins. Light foxing to edges. Near fine.