The First UK printing published by Jonathan Cape, London in 1935. The BOOK is in near Fine condition. Original publisher's grey-green publisher’s cloth, blocked in pale blue to the upper cover and spine. Book Society bookplate of ‘A. Fletcher’ to the front paste-down. Free from inscriptions. A few light spots to the text-block. The scarce original WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good++ condition. A little sunned along the spine, rubbed to folds and edges; light shelf-wear and nicks to the spine tips, discretely reinforced with tape to the verso which does not show through. The wrapper artwork by Walter Trier features a trio of men in suits, one smoking a cigar, attaching a nose to a snowman. The first English edition, translated from the German by Cyrus Brooks. A novel from the author of ‘Emil and the Detectives’ and ‘The Parent Trap’. ‘Three Men in the Snow’ was based upon Kästner’s rather dark short story ‘Inferno in the Hotel’, which was originally published in 1927 in the ‘Berliner Tageblatt’. This, a more lighthearted novel than its previous reiteration, follows the story of a man named Tobler, who wins a competition and, under a pseudonym, embarks on a ten-day stay in a luxurious hotel in the Alps. Under the guise of a poor man, Tobler ropes in his butler to perform the part of his wealthy companion, and a comedy of errors ensues. Beneath the humorous themes lie political undertones, written, as it was, in 1934 against the backdrop of rising popularity for the Nazi party. Kästner was a pacifist, and was strongly opposed to the Nazi cultural elite. He was one of the signatories to the 'Urgent Call for Unity’, which sought to defeat the National Socialist German Workers Party in 1932. Because of his actions, he was interrogated by the Gestapo several times, and many of his books were burned during 1933. The few novels and works he authored at that time reflect an increasing distance from the day-to-day changes in the public discourse. The novel has been adapted into film three times; the first in Czech in 1936, the second in 1955 and the third (and perhaps most popular) in 1974. The wrapper artwork is by Walter Trier who was a Czech-German illustrator, best known for his work for the children's books of Erich Kästner and the covers of the magazine ‘Lilliput’. A very attractive example of a rarity from the author of the acclaimed ‘Emil and the Detectives’.