You really want this one. Really.

OK, this is rather thrilling. There is now a facsimile edition of the long out of print Knave of Hearts by Louise Saunders, illustrated by Maxfield Parrish! It was first published in 1921 by the Atlantic Monthly, and although I was familiar with all the illustrations of the book, the book itself has always been impossible to find. (Or, once found, impossible to afford!) So I'm thrilled that they've reprinted it. It's quite a ridiculous little story about Lady Violetta having to pass a pastry test in order to become queen, and it's very funny. Here's a sample quote, pulled at random from the book.

The Lady Violetta is slim and fair. She does not, in my opinion, look like the kind of person who is capable of making good pastry. I have discovered through long experience that it is the heaviest women who make the lightest pastry, and vice versa.

And it's illustrated by Maxfield Parrish! I might as well admit that Maxfield Parrish is one of my favorite artists of all time. It's true. I went through a very heavy Maxfield Parrish phase in my junior high years as a matter of fact, and I'm afraid that PG Wodehouse and Maxfield Parrish may have, in equal parts, shaped my imagination. Then I decided that I ought to be more dignified than that and go in for art that was a little more, well, serious. But when you come right down to it, I'm not more dignified than that. I love Maxfield Parrish. And PG Wodehouse. So there. Wanna make somethin' of it?

Seriously though. Look at these pictures! Aren't they totally gorgeous? And silly? They're perfect.

I've tried and tried to find this book over the years, so what I'm telling you is that this is a really fabulously cool thing to win!

And of course, The Skirty!

(But with fair warning that size Medium may not be available by the time this is awarded!)

So leave a comment, and don't forget to link so you'll get a double entry!

CLOSED NOW!