3 First Editions : A MAJOR WOMAN ANGLO-INDIAN WRITER - LESBIAN LOVE AFFAIR

Description

A MAJOR WOMAN ANGLO-INDIAN WRITER - LESBIAN LOVE AFFAIR
EXTRAORDINARY BIOGRAPHY
Laurence Hope (Adela Florence Nicolson).  Group of Three Novels.  London: William Heinemann, 1902- 1905.  8vo.  First editions. RARE together.  Original boards, paper labelled spines, some spoiling, pastedown with notable foxing.    Handsomely wrapped in contemporary mustard cloth, housed in a custom triple decker slipcase with silk pull ties. "Ex Libris Frank L. Hadley;'  features oil wells, a stack of book with an oil lamp, an eagle, and a light shining on a book.
"Violet Nicolson (9 April 1865 – 4 October 1904; otherwise known as Adela Florence Nicolson (née Cory)), was an English poet who wrote under the pseudonym Laurence Hope, however she became known as Violet Nicolson. In the early 1900s, she became a best-selling author.
Adela married Colonel Malcolm Hassels Nicolson, who was then twice her age and commandant of the 3rd Battalion, the Baluch Regiment in April 1889. He had apparently gained a reputation for derring do, once crossing the Mango Pir River by hopping from one crocodile's back to another. A talented linguist, he introduced her to his love of India and native customs and food, which she began to share. This widely gave the couple a reputation for being eccentric. On the Zhob Valley expedition of 1890 she followed her husband through the passes of the Afghan border disguised as a Pathan boy. They lived in Mhow from 1895 until early 1900. After he died in a prostate operation, Adela, who had been prone to depression since childhood, committed suicide by poisoning herself and died at the age of 39 on 4 October 1904 in Madras. Her son Malcolm published her Selected Poems posthumously in 1922." [Wikipedia]
It is rumored "the poems expressed Adela’s lesbian love for Amy Woodforde-Finden. It appears Amy wrote to Laurence stating that she had been trying out some of the songs and wanted approval. Laurence agreed and asked if they could meet – the rumour is that they did meet and they fell instantly and passionately in love, and embarked on a brief, intense affair before returning to their respective husbands as propriety demanded. Amy was known as a prolific composer of ‘eastern ditties’, which effectively captured the mood and morals of the period. But many believe that the two never met. Before this rumour heated up, Adela shifted to Madras and that effectively killed the rumour."