Red cloth binding with gilt title on the spine.

We provide an in-depth photographic presentation of this item to stimulate your feeling and touch. More traditional book descriptions are immediately available. 

•   Note: This book carries a £5.00 discount to those that subscribe to the F.B.A. mailing list

Please view our photographs. A well constructed book issued for a niche market. “My Contemporaries” by the prominent German journalist and social critic Maximilian Harden (frequently misspelled as “Harsen” in old catalog listings) is a highly collectible work of political and cultural biography.

Book & Edition Overview

Published in 1926 by the renowned London literary house Jonathan Cape, this 1st English edition translates Harden’s sharp, intimate essays evaluating the leading figures of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The book was translated into English by William Cranston Lawton and features an introductory essay by the Honorable James W. Gerard. 

Physical Specifications & Condition

• Dimensions: Approximately 6 x 9.2 x 1.2 inches (a standard 8vo or octavo format, roughly matching 15 x 23 x 3 cm).
• Length: 287 pages.
• Condition Rating: Good. In rare book trade terms, a “Good” rating indicates that the book is completely intact and structurally sound, but will show visible signs of wear—such as age-toning to the pages, slight rubbing or bumping to the cloth spine and corners, or minor staining on the boards. For a book approaching its centenary, a “Good” designation without a dust jacket is typical for surviving library or household copies. 

Market Context

Maximilian Harden was a fiercely influential figure in Weimar-era journalism, famous for exposing royal scandals and offering blistering political critiques. First editions printed by Jonathan Cape during this golden age of British publishing are highly regarded for their design and typography.