DARCONVILLE'S CAT

First UK edition, first printing. Original black cloth with gilt lettering to the spine and upper board, in the dustwrapper featuring a painting by the author. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the spine tips and board corners lightly rubbed and bumped. The contents are clean throughout and without stamps or inscriptions. Complete with the lightly rubbed, nicked and creased original dustwrapper that has a few tiny closed tears at the edges and a British price label to the rear panel, as issued. Not price-clipped ($15.95 on the front flap). Scarce in this form.

The first British edition, incorporates the sheets and binding of the US second American printing in which the British publisher has applied their Hamish Hamilton label at the bottom of title page, and a British price sticker and ISBN number on the rear panel of the dustwrapper. A novel about the extended descent of a young college professor from romanticism into misogyny. Anthony Burgess included it in his book-length essay 'Ninety-Nine Novels: The Best in English since 1939 – A Personal Choice'.