The Hour Before the Dawn by W. Somerset Maugham

A vintage 1960 first paperback edition of The Hour Before the Dawn by W. Somerset Maugham, author of Of Human Bondage, The Razor's Edge, and The Moon and Sixpence.

Originally published in hardcover in 1942, The Hour Before the Dawn is Maugham's World War II novel set against the uncertainty and upheaval of wartime Britain. This Popular Library edition was published in November 1960 and is identified on both the front and rear covers as the “First Paperback Publication.”

The edition is particularly appealing for its colorful mid-century illustrated cover, depicting a couple embracing against a dramatic wartime scene of fire and destruction. The original 50¢ price and Popular Library SP75 designation remain printed on the front cover.

A nice collectible example for readers of Maugham as well as collectors of vintage paperbacks and mid-century cover art.

Condition: Very Good. Covers show moderate shelf and edge wear with some rubbing and light creasing, particularly around the edges and corners. The illustrated front cover remains bright and attractive. Pages show fairly uniform age toning typical of the paper stock used for mass-market paperbacks of this period.