THE GRASS ARENA - An Autobiography (First edition - first impression - scarce - withdrawn and pulped)

A first impression of the true first edition, published in 1988. With 'First published in 1988 on the printer's page. This is the scarce hardcover first edition, which was reprinted just the once before the novel was withdrawn from circulation and existing copies pulped. ***Near fine in black cloth-covered boards with white titles on the spine. The boards are clean and unmarked. No bumps or creases. Corners sharp. No reading crease to the spine, but a very slight reading lean. Spine tight. Page block edges clean but tanned. Contents also nice and clean, with no inscriptions or annotations. Paper stock clean - just tanned. No creases or tears. ***In a very good colour printed dustwrapper, which has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of £9.95 on the front flap. The dustwrapper is complete, with just very light rubbing at the extremities. No creases, chips or tears. Inner flaps also uncreased. The dustwrapper would be described as near fine, except there is fading to the green colour on the spine - now a shade of blue. Dustwrapper otherwise bright (please see scans). ***194 pages including a printed Chess Problem and Solution at the back of the book. 224mm x 140mm. ***'John Healy was born in London in 1943 to Irish immigrant parents in London's Kentish Town. Leaving school at the age of 14, he spent his formative years in the army, where he had a successful boxing career. Dishonourably discharged for drunkenness, resisting the guard and going absent without leave, Healy began a downward spiral that brought him into the subculture of London's homeless street drinkers. He spent fifteen years as a homeless alcoholic and was convicted of many petty crimes during this time. During one of his prison stretches he learned the game of chess from a fellow cellmate, Harry 'the Fox'. Finding that he had a special aptitude for the game, he decided to give up drinking and with the help of his former Probation Officer, Clive Soley (now Clive Soley, Baron Soley), he made his first moves back into normal life. He has remained sober since. His chess career continued for ten years and despite the ravages of his years spent on the streets he became a highly rated player, capable of playing four games simultaneously whilst wearing a blindfold and several games simultaneously with sight of the boards. Having given up his ambition of becoming a Grandmaster, Healy retired from tournament chess and began to write his life story, which was published in 1988 by Faber and Faber. "The Grass Arena" was instantly recognised as a classic of the memoir genre, and won many awards including the J. R. Ackerley Award for Literary Autobiography. This was the first book in the history of the prize to win the award outright. In 1990 Healy's autobiography was adapted into a film of the same name that won many major international awards, including the inaugural Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature at the Edinburgh Film Festival. A documentary about Healy's life and work, titled Barbaric Genius, directed by Paul Duane and produced by Screenworks Film and TV premiered at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival in 2011. It was nominated for the 2012 Grierson Documentary Award. Following a dispute with Faber and Faber in 1991, the book was put out of print in the UK, but was re-issued in 2008 as a Penguin Classic.' (Wiki) ***x.' (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper) ***A first impression of the true first edition, in near fine condition. Due to the publisher withdrawing and pulping the book, copies of the original Faber first edition are very scarce now. Something of a rarity. ***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.…