A SHORT ANSWER (First edition of the author's first published book)

Stanley Middleton

Published by Hutchinson (Imprint: New Authors Limited), London, 1958

About this Item

First edition of the author's elusive first book. Published by Hutchinson as Number 5 in their New Authors Limited series. Dustwrapper illustration by Anne Scott. ***Very good in black cloth-covered boards with white titles to the spine, with small green and yellow block designs. The boards are clean and unmarked and the titles are bright. Head and tail of spine slightly creased. No bumps. Corners sharp. Top edge of page block slightly darkened, fore-edge slightly foxed. No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Internally also very good, with a previous owner's neat contemporaneous name and date to the top of the front free endpaper. Endpapers slightly foxed. Interior pages clean. No creases or tears. ***In a good dustwrapper which has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of 15s net. Whilst quite complete, there is loss to the front panel of the dustwrapper at the top edge, and significant loss along the bottom edge of the back panel. The top edges are creased and the laminate is lifting at the bottom of the front panel. Top of the spine has a small area of loss. Tail of spine of dustwrapper has a small tear. ***239 pages plus a one-page note on 'New Authors' Patrons' at the back of the book. ***204mm x 136mm. ***'Stanley Middleton FRSL (1 August 1919 - 25 July 2009) was a British novelist. He was born in Bulwell, Nottinghamshire, in 1919 and educated at High Pavement School, Stanley Road, Nottingham, and later at University College Nottingham. Middleton started writing while at university and in 1958 published his first novel "A Short Answer". Alongside his work as an author, he taught English at High Pavement Grammar School for many years. In 1974, his novel "Holiday" won the Booker Prize. In 2008, "Her Three Wise Men" was published, this being his 44th novel, and the last to be published during his lifetime.' (Wiki) ***'For some time now readers in this country have been rediscovering that there is a life - rich and strange - which goes on outside London. The reawakened interest in the lives and activities of people in what are called 'the provinces' may be further stimulated by this poised and exact novel. Stanley Middleton doesn't protest that the world of the Midlands is unique: he knows it, and writes about it with absolute assurance. His hero is l'homme moyen sensuel - but with all the dozens of differences that each average man has from his neighbour. Sam is a character with great curiosity, liveliness and scepticism. Imagine his surprise, therefore, when he is granted what can only be an immediate experience of the divine. Sam is baffled but not really perturbed. His investigations into the meaning of his experience don't prevent him from a flirtation with the professor's wife next door, nor from continuing the social ascent into greener pastures. ***"A Short Answer" is a picaresque novel - racy, artfully dissecting and serious - about one man confronted with more of a challenge than he thinks himself capable of answering. The author himself lives in 'the provinces' and spends some of his spare time in such restful pastimes as music and cricket. But neither music nor cricket would have prepared us for so strong an achievement of the serious in comic form.' (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper) ***The true first edition of Stanley Middleton's first published novel, in the original dustwrapper. Uncommon. ***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. Seller Inventory # 2084x

Bibliographic Details

Title: A SHORT ANSWER (First edition of the ...

Publisher: Hutchinson (Imprint: New Authors Limited), London

Publication Date: 1958

Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Anne Scott (Jacket illustration)

Condition: Very Good

Dust Jacket Condition: Good

Edition: First Edition