[Dorothy Jarman (pseudonyms ‘Ann Trent’, ‘Dorothy Desana’, ‘Davide Sernicoli’, ‘Ann Carlton’, ‘Elaine Crosse’), prolific English romantic novelist.] Typed Letter Signed, as ‘Dorothy Desana’, to autograph collector Eileen Cond, describing her novels.

For such a prolific author, it is odd that so little is to be gleaned about Dorothy Jarman (1902-1978; Fellow of the Institute of Arts and Letters, widow of Roy H. Jarman), who claims in this letter, written as ‘Dorothy Desana’, that ‘Ann Trent’ is her pseudonym, while in the 1971 edition of ‘The Author’s and Writer’s Who’s Who’, ‘Ann Trent’ is given as her real name, while ‘Dorothy Desana’ is one of four pseudonyms. Whatever the case, twenty-six books were published under the name ‘Davide Sernicoli’ between 1936 and 1953, with twenty more books published by her under other names. The recipient Eileen Cond was an enthusiastic collector of autographs, and had the ability to draw a more than perfunctory response from her targets. 1p, 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased; folded twice. Signed ‘Dorothy Desana’. She begins by saying that she is glad that her book ‘The White Squadron’ has given Cond pleasure, before continuing: ‘If you are interested in books with North African or “Mediterranean” backgrounds you may like some of my novels, all of which are set either in Libya, Algeria, Italy, France, Spain or the islands of the Mediterranean Sea. So far, I have had forty eight novels published, using the pseudonyms Davide Sernicoli and Ann Trent. My next novel, THE UNFORESEEN HAZARD, will be published by Robert Hale under my latest pseudonyn, [sic] Ann Carlton.’