THE COMFORTERS (First edition, first printing in the original dustwrapper)

Muriel Spark

Verlag: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., London, 1957

First printing of the true first edition of the author's first novel, published in 1957. A second printing didn't appear until 1961. ***Very good in blue cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The gilt is still nice and bright, having been protected by the dustwrapper. The boards are clean and unmarked. Head and tail of spine very slightly creased. Corners sharp. No reading creases to the spine, and just the very slightest of a reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Page block edges slightly marked, with some foxing to the top edge and the top of the fore-edge. Internally also very good with no inscriptions. There is some light sporadic foxing to the first and last few pages, but pages otherwise clean. Please note that there is some creasing to the top corner of a few pages, mainly affecting pp.29-40, but not affecting the text (please see scans). ***In a very good example of the original dustwrapper, with a very striking design which is unattributed. The dustwrapper is largely complete and has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of 13s 6d net. There is a triangular chip to the top edge of the front panel, and small areas of loss at the head and tail of the spine and corner tips of the foldovers. There is also some surface rubbing with loss of the blue colour along the edge of the spine and back panel, and some foxing to the inner foldover flaps. There is quite a lot of foxing and browning to the white back panel, however, the dustwrapper remains bright with no fading to the spine (please see scans). ***233 pages. 198mm x 135mm. ***'"The Comforters" is the first novel by Scottish author Muriel Spark. She drew on experiences as a recent convert to Catholicism and having suffered hallucinations due to using Dexedrine, an amphetamine then available over the counter for dieting. Although completed in late 1955, the book was not published until 1957. A mutual friend, novelist Alan Barnsley, had sent the proofs to Evelyn Waugh. At the time Waugh was writing "The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold", which dealt with his own drug-induced hallucinations. Waugh's and other positive responses prompted Macmillan to publish the novel in February 1957 in the United Kingdom, and it was also published that same year in the United States. The novel's quick success enabled Spark to give up editorial work and devote herself to full-time creative writing.' (Wiki) ***'"The Comforters" is a first novel by an Observer short-story prizewinner who is also the author of several critical works. To the Chinese-box convention of a book-within-a-book, Muriel Spark wittily adds her own twists of surprise. Her bevy of oddities and neurotics mix, but cannot lose their loneliness of mind. None the less, their natures and their strange goings-on have a kind of stylish glitter about them: Caroline, the heroine, afflicted with "voices"; Baron Stock, the self-deceiving occultist; Laurence, the amiable compulsive snooper, and the impossibly pneumatic Mrs. Hogg, warden of St. Philumena's retreat-house, are all, in part, prisoners of their own fantasy. Over against them stands Louisa Jepp, Laurence's indomitable country grandmother, whose sanity has its own trick relaxations. This brilliant eccentric novel will delight all readers who are prepared to lift at least one foot off the ground.' ***"Brilliantly original and fascinating." - Evelyn Waugh(Quote and review quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper) ***A first printing of the true first edition of Muriel Spark's first novel, published in 1957, in very good original condition. The book is scarce now in first printing in any condition. This is a very nice copy. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 8772x

Bibliografische Details

Titel: THE COMFORTERS (First edition, first ...
Verlag: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., London
Erscheinungsdatum: 1957
Einband: Hardcover
Zustand: Very Good
Zustand des Schutzumschlags: Very Good
Auflage: First Edition