Three Stories – The Snow Goose, The Small Miracle & Ludmila by Paul Gallico

Published by Michael Joseph in London in 1964, Three Stories by Paul Gallico brings together three of the author’s most celebrated and moving shorter works: “The Snow Goose”, “The Small Miracle” and “Ludmila”. Beautifully illustrated by Anne Linton, this handsome omnibus edition of Three Stories offers an ideal introduction to one of the twentieth century’s most beloved storytellers.

“The Snow Goose”, first published during the Second World War, is Gallico’s famous tale of friendship, sacrifice and redemption set on the Essex marshes. Widely regarded as his masterpiece, it remains one of the most enduring short novels of the twentieth century.

“The Small Miracle” tells the touching story of Pepino and his donkey Violetta, whose journey to Rome in search of a miracle has made the story a perennial Christmas favourite. “Ludmila”, the third story in the volume, is a charming and lesser-known Gallico tale of warmth and humanity.

This 1964 Michael Joseph edition of Three Stories by Paul Gallico is particularly attractive in its original pictorial dust jacket, featuring a lively Mediterranean street scene to the front panel and individual illustrations to the rear. The vivid red cloth boards with bright gilt lettering provide excellent shelf appeal.

Condition – Very Good

Three Stories by Paul Gallico – Very Good hardcover in a Fair to Good dust jacket. The original dust jacket is complete but moderately worn, with rubbing, creasing, chipping and several tears, including a larger tear and associated loss at the top of the spine and upper front panel. The binding consists of pale grey patterned boards with a simulated woodgrain effect, with a narrow strip of bright red cloth approximately 2 cm wide along the spine edge of the front and rear boards, continuing over the spine itself. The gilt lettering to the spine remains bright and attractive. Internally the book is clean and well preserved, with no notable defects.