Alfred Leland Crabb, a native of Kentucky, was a professor at Peabody College in Nashville. Peabody is now a part of Vanderbilt University. What Crabb is now remembered for are his highly successful historical fiction novels with settings in Tennessee and Kentucky. Offered here are 5 of his first 6 novels, all SIGNED by him. If you are not very familiar with him, please read the excellent article about him on Wikipedia and other sites on the internet.
While a student at Peabody College, the future pin-up girl, Bettie Page (1923-2008), was his typist. She was the Salutatorian of her 1940 graduating class from Hume-Fogg High School in Nashville. She was awarded a scholarship to study acting at Peabody College. It is documented that she typed all of Crabb's first two novels, DINNER AT BELMONT (1942) and SUPPER AT THE MAXWELL HOUSE (1943, not for sale here). She graduated in 1944, one year before BREAKFAST AT THE HERMITAGE was published, but it is not impossible that she may have worked on one of the early versions. Crabb honored Page by naming one of the characters in BREAKFAST "Bettie Donelson." For more information about her, just google her name.
The first 4 books are all inscribed to a John William Kiser (1927-2023). He was born in Giles County, Tennessee, but lived most of his adult life just a few miles east of there in Cornersville, Marshall County, Tennessee. Based on the inscriptions, he and Dr. Crabb were apparently well-known to each other.
None of the 5 books offered here have the dust jackets. All were all published by the Bobbs-Merrill Company. THEY ARE....
* DINNER AT BELMONT. Published in 1942, the book is tan cloth hardcover, 385 pages, and is in Very Good condition. The inscription on the half-title page reads, "For a bright and eager mind and a fine spirit, John William Riser, of whom I bear a high estimate and for whom I have high regards." Below that Riser wrote his full name and dated it July 20, 1943.
* BREAKFAST AT THE HERMITAGE. Published in 1945, the book is maroon cloth hardcover, 312 pages and is in Very Good condition. The inscription on the half-title page reads, "For John W. Kiser." Crabb then writes, "Early morning in the New South," which is the theme of the book.
* LODGING AT THE ST. CLOUD. Published in 1946, it is red cloth hardcover, 255 pages. It is a stated First Edition and has a special tipped-in page titled, "Bedford Forrest Edition" with a photo of the statue of Forrest that used to be in a park in downtown Memphis. At the top right corner of that page is written (#1). I don't know whether or nor Crabb wrote that. The inscription reads, "To John Kiser, an artistic young Giles Countian." This copy is in Very Good condition.
* HOME TO THE HERMITAGE. Published in 1948, it is a stated First Edition, red cloth hardcover, 318 pages and is in Very Good condition. The inscription reads, "For John Kiser, in love with Tennessee's art and beauty." The signature reads, "Presented by the A. L. Crabbs." Perhaps Mrs. Crabb was present with her husband for that inscription? There is a special tipped-in page that reads, "Rachel Jackson Edition" which was then signed, "Alfred L. Crabb". Rachel was Andrew Jackson's wife. "The Hermitage" is the name of the Andrew Jackson plantation just northeast of Nashville.
* HOME TO TENNESSEE. Published in 1952, the book is red cloth hardcover, stated First Edition, 299 pages. It is in Very Good condition. Crabb's inscription reads, "To Mrs. Jones F. Rutledge...Nashville bows to Lewisburg." Lewisburg is the county seat for Marshall County. He signed this copy on the next page, which is a tipped-in page that reads, "Tod Carter Edition, HOME TO TENNESSEE." Mrs. Rutledge died in 2009 at age 83.
All the books will be carefully packaged to insure safe shipping. Extra information about Bettie Page, John W. Kiser, and Dr. and Mrs. Jones F. Rutledge will be sent with the books. Due to the cost of these books, I insist on using (at no extra cost to the buyer) a "Signature Required" tracking. All you need to do is provide me an address where you or someone you trust will be present to sign.
Bookseller since 1999. B.