Green Dolphin Street by Elizabeth Goudge Value Guide

This 1944 first edition is highly collectible as the winner of the inaugural Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Annual Novel Award, which paved the way for the Oscar-winning 1947 film. Elizabeth Goudge's sprawling 19th-century epic is a landmark of historical fiction, blending the landscapes of the Channel Islands and New Zealand.

What affects the value of Green Dolphin Street by Elizabeth Goudge?

• The presence and condition of the original 1944 dust jacket significantly impact the $50-$60 price range.
• Overall physical state, including the absence of foxing on the paper and minimal wear to the cloth spine.
• Provenance or signatures, as copies signed by Elizabeth Goudge command a premium among collectors.
• The edition's association with the 1947 Lana Turner film adaptation can influence demand among cinema memorabilia collectors.

How to Identify Green Dolphin Street by Elizabeth Goudge?

• Check for the 1944 publication date on the title page or copyright page to ensure it is a first printing.
• Verify the publisher is Coward-McCann (US) or Hodder & Stoughton (UK) for the original release year.
• Look for the original cloth binding, typically featuring gold or colored lettering on the spine.
• Confirm the presence of the original dust jacket, which often features period-specific artwork and the MGM award mention.

History of Green Dolphin Street by Elizabeth Goudge

Green Dolphin Street, written by Elizabeth Goudge, was a hugely popular novel that won the 1944 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Annual Novel Award. This award led to its adaptation into a 1947 film starring Lana Turner, which garnered four Academy Awards. Goudge was a prolific British author known for her historical novels, children's books, and religious works, often weaving themes of faith, redemption, and the beauty of the English countryside into her narratives. This particular novel is a sprawling tale of love, sacrifice, and adventure set in the Channel Islands and New Zealand during the 19th century.