A MERCY (First UK edition - fourth impression)

Fourth impression of the first UK edition, with the number string: 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 on the printer's page. The UK edition precedes the US Knopf edition. ***Near fine in burgundy cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The gilt is still beautifully bright, having been protected by the dustwrapper. The boards are clean and unmarked. Head and tail of spine just slightly creased. No tears to the cloth. Top edge of page block slightly marked. No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Internally also near fine with no inscriptions. Pages clean - just a small foxing spot to the margin of pp.42/3. No creases or tears. ***In a near fine colour-illustrated dustwrapper, which has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of £15.99. The dustwrapper is clean and complete, with very few faults, other than slight creasing at the edges - mainly at the top and tail of the spine. Dustwrapper bright and clean. ***242mm x 150mm. 165 pages plus a Note on the Type at the back of the book. ***'Chloe Anthony Wofford "Toni" Morrison (born Chloe Ardelia Wofford; Feb 18, 1931 - Aug 5, 2019) was an American novelist and editor. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993. Her first novel, "The Bluest Eye", was published in 1970. The critically acclaimed "Song of Solomon" (1977) brought her national attention and won the National Book Critics Circle Award. In 1988, Morrison won the Pulitzer Prize for "Beloved" (1987). "A Mercy" is Toni Morrison's ninth novel. It was published in 2008. Set in colonial America in the late 17th century, it is the story of a European farmer, his purchased wife, and his growing household of indentured or enslaved white, Native American, and African characters. It made the New York Times Book Review list of "10 Best Books of 2008" as chosen by the paper's editors. In Fall 2010, A Mercy was chosen for the One Book, One Chicago program. In 2024, it was ranked 47th in the New York Times list of the best 100 books of the 21st century.' (Wiki) ***'Powerful tragedy distilled into a jewelled masterpiece by the Nobel Prize-wining author of "Beloved" and, like a prelude to that story, set two centuries earlier.' (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper) ***A fourth impression of the first UK edition of the author's ninth novel, in its original dustwrapper in very nice, bright, collectable condition. ***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.…