About this Item
First printing of the first edition - the usual second state with 'First Published in 1914' on the printer's page. The book was originally due to have been published in 1913 but, due to a strike at the binders, publication was delayed from autumn 1913 until spring 1914. The publishers chose to cancel the original 1913 dated title pages and insert replacements dated 1914 (as with this copy). Only a very small number of copies (apparently just 50 according to Methuen's files) survived with the earlier title page. Published in January 1914, 3,000 copies were printed (Wise 22 - Thomas J. Wise - A Bibliography of the Writings of Joseph Conrad (1895-1921)***Near fine in green cloth-covered boards with gilt titles and floral decorations to the spine. The gilt is still lovely and bright. The boards are beautifully clean, retaining the deep green colour, even on the spine. The head and tail of the spine are slightly rubbed and creased, but with no tears to the fragile cloth. There is slight rubbing to the cloth at the edges of the spine, but no splitting at all. No bumping - sharp corners. The top edge of the page block is slightly darkened. Internally also near fine, with no inscriptions, and none of the usual foxing - just some light offsetting to front and rear pastedowns. No reading lean. Spine tight. No dustwrapper. ***406 pages plus an 8-page publisher's catalogue of 'Methuen's Popular Novels' at the back of the book, correctly dated Autumn 1913. 196mm x 138mm. ***'"Chance" is a novel by Joseph Conrad, published in 1913 (actually 1914), following serial publication the previous year. Although the novel was not one upon which Conrad's later critical reputation was to depend, it was his greatest commercial success upon initial publication. "Chance" is narrated by Conrad's regular narrator, Charles Marlow, along with other narrators, who take up the complex narrative at different points. The novel is also unusual among its author's works for such strong emphasis on a female character: the heroine, Flora de Barral. The narrators attempt to interpret various episodes in the life of Miss de Barral, the daughter of a convicted swindler named Smith de Barral. Miss de Barral leads a sheltered life for as long as her father is prosperous, but at other times must rely on the generosity of others, who resent her or have agendas for her, before she escapes by marrying one Captain Anthony. Much of the book involves the musing of the various narrators over what she and the Captain expected from this union, and what they actually got from it. When her father is released from prison, he joins them on the ship, and the book heads towards its denouement. Breaking away from tradition, "Chance" deals with social issues surrounding feminism and financial speculation, involving Mrs. Fyne and Flora de Barral, as presented by the various narrators. The storyline oscillates between human will and purposeful activity and an opposing "apathetic" force which nullifies the importance of human action. "Chance" opened a path to commercial success for Conrad after years of slow progress and obscurity. This success could be measured by the record sales of the book in 1914, which outsold all his previous publications and shot him to fame. The complex style of Conrad's narrative in this novel invited widespread criticisms from peers and readers alike.' (Wiki) ***First printing (second state) of the true first edition of Joseph Conrad's "Chance: A Tale in Two Parts" - in the original publisher's green cloth-covered gilt-decorated boards, in beautiful condition for a book now over a hundred years old. A collector's 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.
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