The Courtesy of Death - Inscribed - Geoffrey Household 1967 - Michael Joseph, London - First Edition First edition, inscribed from Geoffrey Household:

For all the Thompsons with love Geoffrey 19.v.67.

‘When retired mining engineer Yarrow is disturbed after midnight by Barnabas Fosworth, he assumes that he is just a curious eccentric. But by helping Fosworth in his search for the mysterious girl he seeks, Yarrow soon finds his life inexplicably threatened by a mystical sect who believe that taking life is forgivable, since death is only a transition.

Entombed in a cavern in the Mendips, Yarrow discovers the ancient secrets that have their origins in paleolithic paintings; and it is only through this new knowledge that he can hope to escape a very unpleasant death’ – Orion
  Geoffrey Household (1900-88) might very well be a contender for one of the most eclectic career paths of all time. After studying English literature at Oxford, Household joined the Bank of Romania as an assistant confidential secretary, though he quickly abandoned this to travel to Spain, becoming the chief marketing manager for the United Fruit Company, dealing specifically with bananas. He then wrote several children’s plays for Columbia Broadcasting System, worked as a traveling salesman in South America and the Middle East, and then, served as a member of the British intelligence service during the Second World War, before settling down to write novels following the allied victory.

Octavo (book size 20.4x13.5cm), pp. 206 [2]. In publisher’s blue cloth, spine lettered in gilt. Dust jacket priced ‘25s net’ to lower corner of front flap.
  Condition: Fine in very good dust jacket with toning and wear to edges.   Ref: 109992   Price: HK$ 800