Literature
Rare and first edition literature from Peter Harrington. On our shelves you'll discover rare poetry, English, American & modern literature, pre-1900 rare books, plays, world literature and much more.
From the blog: Nightingales and Roses: The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Video: [PUTTENHAM, George.] The Arte of English Poesie. 1589.
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PASTERNAK, Boris. The Blind Beauty.London : 1969
First UK edition, first impression, of the play Slepaya krasavitsa, left unfinished on Pasternak's death. It was first published in the US earlier the same year. Learn More£50.00Stock Code: 99216
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TUDOR, Tasha. Snow Before Christmas.New York : 1941
First edition, first printing. Learn More£375.00Stock Code: 99286
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PROULX, Annie. Brokeback Mountain.London : 1998
First UK edition, first impression. It was originally published in The New Yorker on October 13, 1997. The basis for the 2005 film directed by Ang Lee, starring Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Michelle Williams, and Randy Quaid. Learn More£45.00Stock Code: 99320
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FRANCIS, Dick. In the Frame.London : 1976
First edition, first impression. Learn More£35.00Stock Code: 99350
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FRANCIS, Dick. Risk.London : 1977
First edition, first impression. Learn More£35.00Stock Code: 99508
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[WHITE, T. H.] ASTON, James. First Lesson. A Novel.London : 1932
First edition, first impression of the author's fourth book, the second that he published under the pseudonym James Aston. Learn More£975.00Stock Code: 99576
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BAUM, L. Frank - Ruth Plumly Thompson. The Silver Princess in Oz.Chicago : 1938
First edition, first printing, variant A binding with spine illustration of Handy Mandy's face. The 31st Oz book. Scarce in such good condition. Learn More£625.00Stock Code: 99603
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[WHITE, T. H.] ASTON, James. They Winter Abroad.London : 1932
First edition, first impression of the author's first novel, published pseudonymously. White composed the novel halfway through his studies at Queen's College, while convalescing from tuberculosis in Italy. Learn More£950.00Stock Code: 99609
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WHITE, Patrick. A Fringe of Leaves.London : 1976
First edition, first printing. Learn More£35.00Stock Code: 99683
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WHITE, Patrick. The Burnt Ones.London : 1964
First edition, first impression. Learn More£50.00Stock Code: 99687
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EVERSON, Bill. These Are The Ravens.San Leandro, CA : 1935
First edition, signed limited issue, one of 15 copies covered by the author at The Everson Printery, on 27 November 1935. This copy was presented to Miss Frances Wilson by the author on 19 December 1935, and was subsequently inscribed by him 44 years later on the inside front cover: "How astounding to find this specially bound copy of my first book,... Learn More£3,750.00Stock Code: 99733
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PARGETER, Edith. Hortensius, Friend of Nero.London : 1936
First edition, first impression of the author's first book in the scarce jacket. Inscribed by the author on the first blank: "Best wishes, Edith Pargeter." Learn More£575.00Stock Code: 99761
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LURIE, Alison. The Nowhere City.London : 1965
First edition, first printing. Learn More£65.00Stock Code: 99955
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GULIK, Robert van. New Year's Eve in Lan-Fang.Beirut : 1958
First edition, first impression, presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title: "Met al onze beste wensen voor 1959! Robert en Francis Beyruth, Dec. '58" ("With all our best wishes for 1959!"). This is one of just 200 copies printed for the author and privately distributed as a Christmas gift to his friends. Laid-in is a photograph of... Learn More£3,250.00Stock Code: 100038
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BAKER, Frank. Miss Hargreaves.London : 1940
First edition, first impression of the author's third novel. The book was a gift from the author, as noted on the bookplate in pencil. Learn More£750.00Stock Code: 100122
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LESSING, Doris. The Golden Notebook.London : 1962
First edition, first impression of the Nobel laureate's masterpiece. Learn More£675.00Stock Code: 100216
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AMIS, Kingsley. Bright November.London : [1947]
First edition, first impression, later issue binding, of the author's first published book. The publisher R. A. Caton was an elusive one-man publisher who founded The Fortune Press, based at 12 Buckingham Palace Road, in 1924. He specialised in gay writing (several Fortune Press productions were burned after the 1934 obscenity trials), and in taking... Learn More£650.00Stock Code: 100284
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MATTHIESSEN, Peter. Partisans.London : 1956
First UK edition, first printing of the author's second novel. This copy is from the author's library; it was first printed in the US the preceding year. Learn More£225.00Stock Code: 100292
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WELDON, Fay. Remember Me.London : 1976
First edition, first impression. Learn More£50.00Stock Code: 100372
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STOREY, David. A Temporary Life.New York : 1974
First US edition, first printing. It was first published in the UK the preceding year. Learn More£45.00Stock Code: 100491
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BROWN, Beth. All Dogs Go To Heaven.New York : 1943
First edition, first printing. Most likely the basis for the 1989 animated film of same title. Learn More£375.00Stock Code: 100574
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VARGAS LLOSA, Mario. Who Killed Palomino Molero?London : 1988
First UK edition, first impression. It was first published in the US in 1987, and originally published in 1986 under the title Quién mató a Palomino Molero? Learn More£45.00Stock Code: 100704
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MISHIMA, Yukio. Death in Midsummer and Other Stories.London : 1967
First UK edition, first impression. It was first published in the US in 1966, and originally published in Japan in 1953. Prior to the first edition in English, some stories also appeared in Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Harper's Bazaar, Japan Quarterly, and Today's Japan. Learn More£95.00Stock Code: 100868
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ROLFE, Frederick, Baron Corvo. In His Own Image.London & New York : 1901
First edition, first printing, first issue binding, with the highly scarce jacket, Wolff noting "no copy traced". The sheets were printed in the US, with 1,500 sets imported to the UK, where the book was published on 5 March 1901. It was released in the US one month later, on 6 April 1901. Copies issued in the US were bound in purple silky cloth, and... Learn More£8,500.00Stock Code: 100920
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CHATWIN, Bruce. The Viceroy of Ouidah.London : 1980
First edition, first impression. Learn More£150.00Stock Code: 101555
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READ, Piers Paul. Monk Dawson.London : 1969
First edition, first impression. The book won both the Somerset Maugham Award and Hawthornden Prize in 1970, and was adapted into a film of the same name in 1998. Learn More£125.00Stock Code: 101580
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HODGSON, William Hope. The Ghost Pirates.London : 1909
First edition, first impression. Presentation copy of Hodgson's landmark work, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper: "N. Rendall, Esq. from William Hope Hodgson - 'May we be friends e'en though we disagree'. Sept. 21st '09." Rare inscribed, with no other copies traced. Hailed as one of the best novel-length works of supernatural fiction... Learn More£7,500.00Stock Code: 101607
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CLOUGH, Arthur Hugh. Poems.London : 1890
A choicely bound copy. Learn More£95.00Stock Code: 101683
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ACKROYD, Peter. English Music.London : 1992
First edition, first impression of the author's sixth novel. Learn More£35.00Stock Code: 101751
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SMILES, Samuel. The Story of the Life of George Stephenson;London : 1871
An attractively bound copy of Smiles's popular biography, first published in 1857. Learn More£75.00Stock Code: 101775
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TENNANT, Kylie. Foveaux.London : 1939
First edition, first impression. The publisher's archive copy with their stamp to the title page. Learn More£45.00Stock Code: 101776
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DULAC, Edmund (illus.); HAWTHORNE, Nathaniel. Tanglewood TalesLondon : [1918]
First trade edition, first printing. A lovely bound copy. Learn More£500.00Stock Code: 101814
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OWEN, John. Everard Bringle.London : 1934
First edition, first impression. The publisher's retained copy with their ink notation to the half title. Learn More£65.00Stock Code: 102001
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O'BRIEN, Tim. If I Die In A Combat Zone.London : 1973
First UK edition, first impression of the author's first book. It was first published earlier the same year in the US. Uncommon in such nice condition. Learn More£225.00Stock Code: 102020
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SHORE, Robert (illus.); MEVILLE, Herman. Billy Budd and Benito Cereno.New York : 1965
Signed limited edition. Number 46 of 1,500 copies signed by Robert Shore. With the prospectus loosely inserted. Learn More£125.00Stock Code: 102125
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THURBER, James. A Thurber Garland.London : 1955
First edition, first impression. Presentation copy from the author to fellow writers Peter de Vries and Katinka Loeser, inscribed on the front free endpaper verso, "To the Katinkas from the Helens", and on the lid of the box, more legibly (probably the hand of his wife), "Katinka and Pete from Jim and Helen". A Thurber Garland - or "weedy bouquet" as... Learn More£975.00Stock Code: 102235
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COOPER, James Fenimore. The Writings.New York : [1895-1900]
The Iroquois edition. Limited to 1,000 numbered sets of which this is number 343, signed by the publisher with the limitation number additionally punched into the paper. The Iroquois edition is considered to be one of the finest editions printed of Cooper, this set being a particularly handsome example. Learn More£5,000.00Stock Code: 102326
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STEVENSON, Robert Louis. The Works.New York : 1901
A handsomely bound set of the Thistle Edition, complete as issued, and containing the author's novels, satirical sketches and letters. The present edition was issued in 24 volumes from 1895 to 1899 and comprises 22 volumes of Stevenson's works with 2 volumes of his letters. Three more volumes (Stevenson's biography and more of his letters) were published... Learn More£5,000.00Stock Code: 102346
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LAN, Wang. Chinese Opera Watercolors. Volumes III and IV.[Taipei] : 1983
First editions. Both volumes warmly inscribed by the author to Josephine Pullein-Thompson. One of Taiwan's leading literary figures, Lan was also chairman of the Chinese Watercolor Society, these volumes reproducing some of his colourful operatic images. Probably best known for her pony novels, in her later years Pullein-Thompson was increasingly involved... Learn More£175.00Stock Code: 102404
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KO, Peng. Black Tears. Stories of War-torn China.[Taipei] : 1986
First edition of this collection. This copy inscribed by the author, "Dear Ms. Josephine Pullein-Thompson with very best wishes, Peng Ko, 1988." Peng Ko has combined a successful career as a newspaperman, now editor-in-chief of the Central Daily News, with that of a prolific author of novels, short stories, and opinion pieces. The majority of the stories... Learn More£50.00Stock Code: 102406
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BETJEMAN, John. Selected Poems.London : 1948
First edition, signed limited issue. Number 8 of 18 copies, signed by the author and specially bound and printed on fine japon vellum. From the libraries of the publisher, bibliographer and novelist Michael Sadleir (1888-1957) and, latterly, the scholar and auctioneer Anthony Hobson (1921-2014), with their bookplates to the front pastedown. Learn More£3,750.00Stock Code: 102444
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BETJEMAN, John. Continual Dew.London : 1937
First edition, one of only three copies specially bound in blue velvet. This copy has a typed letter signed from the publisher (John "Jock" Murray VI 1909-1993) dated 1942 gifting the book to the novelist and bibliophile Michael Sadleir, enclosing the present copy as a "swop" for "the splendid Amandiana", and clarifying the limitation, noting that there... Learn More£3,750.00Stock Code: 102445
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ROLFE, Frederick, Baron Corvo. Nicholas Crabbe.London : 1958
First edition, first impression. Learn More£50.00Stock Code: 102563
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NAIPAUL, V. S. Guerrillas.London : 1975
First edition, first impression. Signed by the author on the title page. From the library of historian and auctioneer Anthony Hobson and with a photograph of him and Naipaul (kept in an envelope with the autograph inscription: "AH looking Japanese with V.S. Naipaul at Tony Powell's 80th birthday lunch, Claridge's 8 April 19"). With Hobson's bookplate... Learn More£675.00Stock Code: 102675
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ROLFE, Frederick, Baron Corvo; WEEKS, Baron. Frederick William Rolfe and Editors.Edinburgh : 1984
First edition, limited issue. Number 40 of 110 copies only. Learn More£60.00Stock Code: 102684
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MASTERS, John. The Venus of Konpara.London : 1960
First edition, first impression. Donald Green also designed a similar jacket for Our Man In Havana by Graham Greene. Learn More£65.00Stock Code: 102878
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HOFF, Harry Summerfield [pseud. William Cooper]. Rhéa.London : 1935
First edition, first impression. Hoff's first four books appeared under the signature H. S. Hoff; his fifth, and greatest success, Scenes from Provincial Life (1950), was published pseudonymously as William Cooper. Learn More£2,250.00Stock Code: 103254
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THUCYDIDES. De bello Peloponnesiaco, in Greek.Venice : 1502
Editio princeps of the most important work in Greek historiography, edited by Aldus from a Cretan manuscript. As with his edition of Herodotus, the text had first appeared in print in the Latin translation of Lorenzo Valla. The recipient of Aldus's dedicatory letter, Daniele Renier, was a Venetian senator, procurator of San Marco and collector of Hebrew,... Learn More£35,000.00Stock Code: 103257
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POWELL, Anthony. From a View to a Death.London : 1933
First edition, first impression. Inscribed by the author for the scholar and auctioneer Anthony Hobson and his wife on the front free endpaper, "Anthony & Tanya, many years later, Tony". The author's scarce third novel, from the library of Anthony Hobson, with his bookplate to the front pastedown. Powell was a reluctant and at times ungracious signer... Learn More£3,250.00Stock Code: 103276
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SINCLAIR, Upton. Another Pamela or, Virtue Still Rewarded.New York : 1950
First edition, first printing. Learn More£50.00Stock Code: 103346
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DUNN, Nell. Tear His Head Off His Shoulders.London : 1974
First edition, first impression. Learn More£50.00Stock Code: 103356
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SOUTAR, Andrew. Public Ghost Number One.London & Melbourne : [1941]
First edition, first impression. Scarce in the jacket. Learn More£275.00Stock Code: 103421
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ZWEIG, Arnold. De Vriendt Goes Home.London : 1934
First UK edition, first impression. The book was first published the US the preceding year; originally published in German under the title De Vriendt kehrt heim in 1932. Set in Mandatory Palestine, the novel examines the ramifications of the murder of the Dutch Jew De Vriendt, a law professor controversial in Jewish politics for his accommodating stance... Learn More£275.00Stock Code: 103423
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BERGER, John. G. A Novel.London : 1972
First edition, first impression. Winner of the Booker Prize. Learn More£225.00Stock Code: 103507
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[VIDAL, Gore.] Edgar Box. Death in the Fifth Position.New York : 1952
First edition, first printing. The first of Vidal's three books featuring Peter Cutler Sargeant II; it was followed by Death Before Bedtime and Death Likes It Hot. Learn More£175.00Stock Code: 103557
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NORMAN, Frank. Much Ado About Nuffink.London : 1974
First edition, first impression. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author to the novelist Denise Robins on the front free endpaper, "For Denise Robins, with best wishes. Vive la difference! Frank Norman. July '74." Learn More£75.00Stock Code: 103564
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KREYMBORG, Alfred. Manhattan Men.New York : 1929
First edition, first printing. Presentation copy, amusingly inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper to the American writer and historian, H. Ogden Wintermute, "This book of man, to the man in Ogden, Wintermute. Alfred Kreymborg, 11/19/31." An attractive copy with the art deco dust jacket. Learn More£250.00Stock Code: 103571
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PEAKE, Mervyn (illus.); CRISP, Quentin. All This and Bevin Too.London : 1943
First edition, first impression, scarce. "In 1943 Crisp wrote a pamphlet and got his Chelsea neighbour Mervyn Peake to illustrate it. The pamphlet consisted of forty-eight 'rather clumsy verses of angerless satire' directed at the Ministry of Labour headed by Ernest Bevin. Quentin tells us he dashed these off in two afternoons but after ensnaring the... Learn More£275.00Stock Code: 103875
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BETJEMAN, John. High and Low.London : 1966
First edition, signed limited edition. Number 31 of 100 copies specially bound and signed by the author. Learn More£425.00Stock Code: 103910
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SNYDER, Gary. Regarding Wave.New York : 1970
First edition, first printing. Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper: "For Fred & Edie 9.IX.40070, Kitkitdizze, Gary Snyder". Learn More£275.00Stock Code: 103922
