SMILE PLEASE - an unfinished autobiography (First edition - first impression)

Jean Rhys (Edited with an Introduction by Diana Athill)

ISBN 10: 0233972137 / ISBN 13: 9780233972138

Published by André Deutsch, London, 1979

About this Item

First impression of the true first edition of Jean Rhys' unfinished autobiography, edited with an Introduction by Diana Athill. Illustrated with eight pages pf monochrome photographs in the centre of the book. ***Near fine in salmon-pink cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The gilt is still nice and bright. The boards are clean and unmarked. Head and tail of spine just slightly creased. Corners sharp. Edges of page block clean. No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Internally also near fine with no inscriptions - clean with no marks or creases and no tears. ***In a near fine illustrated dustwrapper, which has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of £4.95 net. The dustwrapper is complete with no tears, chips or creases. No fading to the delicate colour on the spine. Dustwrapper bright. ***223 mm x145 mm. 173 pages. ***'Jean Rhys, CBE born Ella Gwendolyn Rees Williams (24 Aug 1890 - 14 May 1979) was a British novelist who was born and grew up in the Caribbean island of Dominica. From the age of 16, she was mainly resident in England, where she was sent for her education. She is best known for her novel Wide Sargasso Sea (1966), written as a prequel to Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre. In 1978, she was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her writing. "Good Morning, Midnight" is often considered a continuation of Rhys' three early novels, "Quartet" (1928), "After Leaving Mr. Mackenzie" (1931) and "Voyage in the Dark" (1934). It is experimental in design and deals with a woman's feelings of vulnerability, depression, loneliness and desperation during the years between the two World Wars. The book initially sold poorly - critics thought it well written, but too depressing - and after its publication Rhys spent a decade living in obscurity. It was not until it was adapted by Selma Vaz Dias into a radio play, first broadcast by the BBC in 1957, that Rhys was once again put into the spotlight.' ***'"Smile Please: An Unfinished Autobiography" is a posthumously published, unfinished autobiographical work written by Dominican author Jean Rhys. It was first published in 1979 by André Deutsch Ltd (London) and Harper & Rowe (New York City). The book was edited by and contained an introduction by Rhys's editor, Diana Athill. The first part of the book consists of the account of her childhood in Dominica. The second part of the book consists of drafts about her adult life, ending in 1923. A photographic section divides the two parts.' (Wiki) ***First impression of the true first edition of Jean Rhys' autobiography, which was unfinished at her death. The book and dustwrapper are in very nice bright collectable condition. A well preserved copy. ***All of the pre-war books by Jean Rhys had relatively low print runs, and are thus scarce. ***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 # 9015

Bibliographic Details

Title: SMILE PLEASE - an unfinished autobiography (...

Publisher: André Deutsch, London

Publication Date: 1979

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Near Fine

Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine

Edition: First Edition

About this title

Synopsis:

Book by Rhys, Jean

About the Author:

Jean Rhys was born in Dominica in 1894. After arriving in England aged sixteen, she became a chorus girl and drifted between different jobs before moving to Paris, where she started to write in the late 1920s. She published a story collection and four novels, after which she disappeared from view and lived reclusively for many years. In 1966 she made a sensational comeback with her masterpiece, Wide Sargasso Sea, written in difficult circumstances over a long period. Rhys died in 1979.