The early books by this author were over-looked for a period after her successes with, in particular, her historical novels set in ancient Greece, and this is an attractive copy, now not easy to find in collectable condition. It has been overlooked by many that the author was asked by J B Lippincott & Co for her comments on 'Master And Commander', the very first Aubrey - Maturin novel by Patrick O'Brian, when the company was contemplating publishing it (and when it came out in the US in 1969, it scooped the pool by preceding, by a year, the first UK edition from Collins & Co in London, 1970), but the event began a friendship of some years, and at one point involved some advice on another of O'Brian's books, which he finished up dedicating to her in appreciation - a nice touch!.