WHITE CIRCLE THRILLER EDITIONS

Peter Cheyney’s writings gained wide popularity during the Second World War, when books were supplied to the armed forces and eagerly passed from man to man. Cheyney did not write war stories as such, but the first books in the Dark series are tales of war-time espionage and his general affection for the forces is clear. In his author’s note for the Lemmy Caution novel I’ll Say She Does, written in 1945, he dedicates the book to “all allied prisoners of war”. Specifically he mentions two officers his wife met on a prisoner of war repatriation ship, who gave her a letter for him. Cheyney writes: “I can say without undue sentimentality that the proudest moment in my life as a writer was when I read this letter. They said that during their years of captivity the Caution books had brought them entertainment and laughter – at times and under circumstances when laughter was not particularly easy.”

Published by William Collins from the end of the war and into the 50s, printed with two colour covers (magenta and black) on very cheap paper and most carry advertising. The White Circle editions of Cheyney’s books include several services editions, such as the editions of Sorry You’ve been Troubled and You Can Always Duck shown below. Published as Service Editions, they were later stickered as surplus stock and sold through WH Smith & Son.