LANARK: A LIFE IN FOUR BOOKS

First edition, first printing. Inscribed by the author. Original black cloth with gilt lettering to the spine, with scarlet endpapers. A very fine copy, tight and square, with no marks. The lower outside edge of the page-block seems to have been bumped at some point (perhaps during manufacture, as the board remains sharp). In the equally fine dust wrapper, lavishly illustrated by the author. Not price-clipped and correctly priced (£7.95) to the front flap. A beautiful, bright copy.

Inscribed in black ink to the half title, "TO MICHAEL CURTIS from Alasdair, with thanks for liking it", in the author's distinctive handwriting. Gray's first novel and now something of a modern classic (When Anthony Burgess reviewed the novel, he famously described the author as "the first major Scottish novelist since Walter Scott"). Generously illustrated (though without the illlustrations to the cloth that would grace the later books). The pen and ink illustrated jacket incorporates images of Glasgow with characters and episodes from the novel. In addition to the main title page, each of the four "books" of the novel (ordered 3, 1, 2, 4) has its own intricately drawn "allegorical title page". Scarce in such immaculate condition. (Moores B1a).

Stock code: 17528