They Couldn't Say No
New York: Jonathan Cape and Harrison Smith, 1931.
First edition. [vi], 284 pp. Bound in publisher's red cloth, spine lettering almost completely effaced but looks like it was originally yellow, black topstain. A Good+ copy with aforementioned rubbed-off lettering, tiny hole in spine, cloth a little soiled, rear hinge cracked but holding, vintage bookstore stamp on paste down, a few corner creases to pages. A decent copy.
A rare romance novel about two cynical young advertising executives published at the dawn on the Great Depression, when such stories of affluent city slickers tended not to sell well. At least one contemporary review was miffed at the lack of a critique of the ad industry herein but the book went through at least two printings, so it must have sold somewhat well. The title refers to the protagonists, who just can't say "no" to a lady nor to a stiff drink. They often diss their line of work as a racket, but generally cavort like prototypical Mad Men.
Price: $300.00