(1927–on the left is a dj 1928 Grosset & Dunlap version; on the right, 1st printing, March 1945, of the first Canadian paperback book to be issued by Pocket Books, Montreal–has the caption: “Share this book with someone in uniform”)
(1st dj of the 1948 Macmillan ed.–de la Roche covers were usually this ‘romantically’-toned)
(Mazo de la Roche was based in Toronto as can be seen in the letterhead. This signed 1948 letter to ffrench predicts her fan would write a book one day–and he did, some three decades later.)
Mazo de la Roche (1879-1961) started writing in 1915, but it wasn’t till 1927, when she published the first book in the Jalna saga, which made her international reputation, and put her on a par with L.M. Montgomery in terms of literary fame. Jalna was one of the first Canadian novels to be turned into a movie.