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The Alexandria Quartet: Justine; Balthazar; Mountolive; Clea
by Lawrence Durrell
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Very Good Indeed/Near Fine
- Seller
-
BATH, Somerset, United Kingdom
Item Price
£495.00£445.50
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: Faber, 1957-1960 . First edition. Cloth. Very Good Indeed/Near Fine. 8.5" by 6". None. A complete first edition set of Lawrence Durrell's 'Alexandria Quartet', with 'Mountolive' and 'Clea' retaining their original dust wrappers. The first edition, first impression of each volume of the quarter.With the publisher's original price unclipped dust wrappers to 'Clea' and 'Mountolive'.Lawrence Durrell's tetralogy of novels present three perspectives of a single set of events and characters in Alexandria, Egypt, both before and during WWII. The fourth book - 'Clea' - book is set six years later.In order of publication, present here are: 'Justine' (1957), 'Balthazar' (1958), 'Mountolive' (1958) and 'Clea' (1960).With a loosely inserted letter, dated 1970, from John ME Talbot, the sales office manager of Faber, the publisher of these works. Addressed to L.A. Shilcof, Talbot informs him that any copy of 'Balthazar' dated 1958 is a first edition.With the bookplate of John Waern Hill to the front pastedown of 'Clea' and 'Mountolive'. With the inscription of T I Rodela to the front free endpaper of 'Justine'. In the publisher's original cloth bindings, with price unclipped dust wrapper to final two volumes. Bumping to back strip heads and tails, with rubbing to back strip of 'Justine'. Otherwise, externally excellent. Dust wrappers in excellent condition, with light chipping to head of 'Mountolive', and minor edge wear to tail of each dust wrapper. Bookplates to front pastedown of two latest works, with inscription to front free endpaper of 'Justine'. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Very Good Indeed
Synopsis
The Alexandria Quartet is a tetralogy of novels by British writer Lawrence Durrell, published between 1957 and 1960. A critical and commercial success, the books present four perspectives on a single set of events and characters in Alexandria, Egypt, before and during World War II. As Durrell explains in his preface to Balthazar, the four novels are an exploration of relativity and the notions of continuum and subject-object relation, with modern love as the subject.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Rooke Books
(GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 887F46
- Title
- The Alexandria Quartet: Justine; Balthazar; Mountolive; Clea
- Author
- Lawrence Durrell
- Illustrator
- None
- Format/Binding
- Cloth
- Book Condition
- Used - Very Good Indeed
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First edition
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Publisher
- Faber
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 1957-1960
- Size
- 8.5" by 6"
- Keywords
- lawrence durrell Gerald Durrell The Avignon Quintet Gerald Durrell
- Note
- May be a multi-volume set and require additional postage.
Terms of Sale
Rooke Books
Books are sent on approval and may be returned in like condition for any reason within 14 days of receipt. Responsibility of return to be with the purchaser.
About the Seller
Rooke Books
Biblio member since 2007
BATH, Somerset
About Rooke Books
Welcome to Rooke Books Antiquarian Bookseller
We are a small team dedicated to bringing you very scarce books at reasonable prices. We specialise in rare and hard to come by works on all subjects over the last 500 years, together with modern first editions and decorative sets and bindings. Our library has something for every interest and specialism. We deliver worldwide using a fully tracked and insured courier delivery service.
Where are We?
Based in the literary city of Bath, our offices are housed in the Eastern Dispensary. Built in 1845, the building originally existed as a charitable institution providing medical care. The building now houses our collection of over twenty thousand books and has five full time members of staff.
We are a small team dedicated to bringing you very scarce books at reasonable prices. We specialise in rare and hard to come by works on all subjects over the last 500 years, together with modern first editions and decorative sets and bindings. Our library has something for every interest and specialism. We deliver worldwide using a fully tracked and insured courier delivery service.
Where are We?
Based in the literary city of Bath, our offices are housed in the Eastern Dispensary. Built in 1845, the building originally existed as a charitable institution providing medical care. The building now houses our collection of over twenty thousand books and has five full time members of staff.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
- Tail
- The heel of the spine.
- Bookplate
- Highly sought after by some collectors, a book plate is an inscribed or decorative device that identifies the owner, or former...
- Chipping
- A defect in which small pieces are missing from the edges; fraying or small pieces of paper missing the edge of a paperback, or...
- Rubbing
- Abrasion or wear to the surface. Usually used in reference to a book's boards or dust-jacket.
- Wrappers
- The paper covering on the outside of a paperback. Also see the entry for pictorial wraps, color illustrated coverings for...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
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