The Song of the Red Ruby

Mykle, Agnar. Translated from the Norwegian by Maurice Michael

Published by Barrie & Jenkins Ltd, London, 1961

About this Item

First UK edition, first impression. Some slight edge wear to top and bottom of largely pale blue jacket and spine, corners slightly rubbed, not price clipped (18s), no inscriptions, internally clean tight and square, overall a vg+ copy for its age. 335pp. Agnar Mykle (1915-94), was a Norwegian author. He became one of the most controversial figures in Norwegian literature in the 20th century. The publication of 'The Song of the Red Ruby' ignited what became one of the most famous court cases in Norwegian history. Mykle and his publisher Harald Grieg were accused of writing and publishing immoral and obscene material (this was the era of the Lady Chatterley trial). Mykle's defense attorney was Johan Bernhard Hjort. Mykle and Grieg were both acquitted, but the remaining copies of the book were ordered withdrawn from the market. The Norwegian Supreme Court overturned the ruling on the confiscation in 1958. The court case and the pressure caused by the media attention changed Mykle for the rest of his life, and he became a recluse. No photographs were published of him after 1957 and he chose to associate almost exclusively with friends and family. In the autumn of 1993, however, Mykle had a series of conversations with Nils Kare Jacobsen, an employee at Mykle's publishing house, Gyldendal. These talks were later turned into a book. Scarce in this first UK impression.

Seller Inventory # 010896

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Song of the Red Ruby
• Publisher: Barrie & Jenkins Ltd, London
• Publication Date: 1961
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine