A sweet children’s book for Easter?

Well, possibly not, but wonderful!!

A 1945 copy of Captain Slaughterboard Drops Anchor by Mervyn Peake

First published in 1939 Captain Slaughterboard is the most ferocious and wicked pirate you could ever imagine. He likes nothing better than cutting people up with his cutlass or making them walk the plank. Then one day, on a remote island, he spies a strange Yellow Creature – and from that time on, he's a changed man. How he loves the Yellow Creature! They become the best of friends, always together, sailing the oceans. But will Captain Slaughterboard ever drop anchor for good?

There are differences of opinion at Pluperfect Presents about the wonders of Mervyn Peake, Gormenghast and all that.   I adore those books and have found Mervyn Peake’s work fascinating since I was about 12.  Captain Slaughterboard fits right in, for children and adults too.  You can buy new copies still on Amazon but this one is for those who take pleasure from older, original copies, as near as possible to a 1st edition, this is the 2nd edition,  with its own history of existence, readers and owners adding to the story.  Interestingly the earlier edition seems to be vanishingly rare and  some sellers incorrectly state 1945 as the 1st.

£110