"The free state of Dorimare was a very small country, but, seeing that it was bounded on the south by the sea and on the north and east by mountains, while its centre consisted of a rich plain, watered by two rivers, a considerable variety of scenery and vegetation was to be found within its borders. Indeed, towards the west, in striking contrast with the pastoral sobriety of the central plain, the aspect of the country became, if not tropical, at any rate distinctly exotic. Nor was this to be wondered at, perhaps; for beyond the Debatable Hills (the boundary of Dorimare in the west) lay Fairyland. There had, however, been no intercourse between the two countries for many centuries.

"The social and commercial centre of Dorimare was its capital, Lud-in-the-Mist, which was situated at the confluence of two rivers about ten miles from the sea and fifty from the Elfin Hills."

First published in 1926 and largely forgotten for many years, Hope Mirrlees' Lud-in-the-Mist is now seen as a classic of fantasy literature. For this centenary fine-press edition, we have commissioned Scott McKowen to make thirty-three full page line illustrations, as well as numerous vignettes, all letterpress printed.

The Areté Lud has two states, the Roman and Numbered Editions.

The Roman Edition is printed on Liber Charta White 170 gsm paper and bound in a chocolate brown, full calf binding. The leather is coloured and sprinkled with dark brown and black dye and foil blocked in gold across the entire cover.

There are four raised bands on the spine, with hand tooled gold lines either side, together with title and author foil blocked in gold.

The endpapers are T6 Old Dutch Seventeenth to Nineteenth Century by Payhembury, makers of traditional and historical marbled papers.

The book block is gilded on all three edges, and the book comes in a solander box, the case of which is bound in a charcoal cowskin and foil blocked to the front and spine in gold. The trays are covered in black silk cloth and lined with Payhembury marbled paper.

The Roman Edition is limited to thirty copies plus eight copies hors de commerce, and its price is £2250.00 plus carriage.