The Croquet Player, 1937 first US edition, by H G Wells.

Written by H. G. Wells. Illustrated by Clifton Line. First U.S. edition, 1937. The Viking Press. New York. (Originally published in 1936 in Great Britain by Chatto & Windus.)

The Croquet Player is narrated by a croquet player who meets a doctor named Finchatton in a seaside resort. Finchatton tells him a disturbing tale of a village called Cainsmarsh, where he witnessed a series of strange and terrifying events that drove the inhabitants to insanity and violence. The croquet player becomes fascinated by Finchatton's story and tries to find out more about Cainsmarsh and its dark secrets. The novella is a critique of the modern civilization and its loss of connection with nature and spirituality. It also reflects Wells's own fears and anxieties about the rise of fascism and the threat of another world war.

H. G. Wells (1866 - 1946) was a renowned English writer who produced more than fifty novels and many short stories in various genres. He is widely regarded as one of the founders of science fiction, along with Jules Verne and Hugo Gernsback. His science fiction novels, such as The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, and The Invisible Man, explored themes of social progress, scientific innovation, and human evolution. He also wrote works of social realism, satire, history, and biography. He was a visionary thinker who anticipated many technological and social developments of the 20th century and beyond.

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Condition: Very Good/Good. Dust jacket: Edge tanning; on the front, light scuffing along upper edge, two pinpoints on fore edge; on the back, small open tear on the upper edge; spine is moderately tanned and chipped at head and tail; lightly bumped corners; front and back flaps clipped by design. Silver-embossed on black and gray cloth covers: Lightly faded along the edges, front and back. Name on front fly leaf crossed out with black marker. Pages are clean, undamaged, and complete.

Cover designs for the three editions: UK edition, the true first - standing croquet player in pink jacket; U.S. edition - croquet player seated on the ground, green and yellow background, designed by George Salter; Canadian edition - red/white/blue croquet mallet and ball. There was no book club edition.