ESIO TROT. **

UK,slim 8vo HB+dw/dj,reprint.[Originally and first published 1990 and then reprinted (twice) in the same year of publication.This is that 2nd reprint edn.] FINE/FINE.No owner inscrptn and no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp, clean,glossy laminated,cream background with colour pictorial artwork by Quentin Blake,illustrated dw/dj panels, with blue+black lettering to front panel; with negligible shelf-wear or creasing to edges and corners - no nicks or tears present.Spine/backstrip sunned and bleached to white but colour ink printed lettering bright and appears unaffected.Both inner flaps of dw/dj with minimal foxing/ spotting and without off-setting to either of pastedowns. Both dw/dj panels with some light,superficial minimal scoring/indents with concomitant spot to boards beneath being lightly affected.Top+fore-edges lightly aged/toned otherwise bright and generally clean; contents bright,tight, clean,solid and sound - virtually pristine - no intentional dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips,so appears unread - apart from my own collation.Publisher's bright,crisp,clean,sharp-cornered original plain dark blue cloth boards with bright,crisp,blockeded gilt letters to spine/backstrip and immaculate plain white endpapers.UK, slim 8vo HB+dw/dj,2nd reprint,5- 61pp [paginated] includes author's note and complete story without any chapter pagination,profuse b/w line illustrations by Quentin Blake throughout the text and the book; plus [unpaginated] half-title page,b/w line illustrated title page, and a b/w illustrated title separator page,and last 3pp unpaginated too.
Mr Hoppy,a retired bachelor,harbours a secret passion for the attractive widow Mrs Silver.She,however,lavishes all her affection on another. . . Alfie,her pet tortoise.Mr Hoppy's wildly ingenious plot to defeat his rival and win the love of his lady will delight and amaze,involving as it does a cryptic riddle and no fewer than 140 tortoises,large and small.This is,quite simply,a masterpiece.Illustrated throughout by the inimitable Quentin Blake,'Esio Trot' is a quirky,tender and truly original love story from Roald Dahl, our master of storytellers and winner of the 1989 Children's Author of the Year Award. Quentin Blake,born 1932,Sidcup,Kent.Son of a civil servant.Educated at Chiselhurst, Sidcup Grammar School and Cambridge University.Attended life classes at Chelsea College of Art.Tutor in illustration at the Royal College of Art (1965-78) and Head of the Illustration Dept 1978-1986, and is now a visiting professor.He was honoured with an OBE in 1988.He works in pen and ink and watercolour in a popular and unmistakable style,capturing essential character and movement with wit and gaiety in a few rapid strokes.He has illustrated many editions of the BBC Jackanory television programme.Whilst he illustrated many of his own works,he is renowned for his collaboration with Roald Dahl.Quentin Blake was the first Children's Laureate from 1999-2001. Please contact seller @ rpaxtonden@blueyonder.co.uk ,because of the lighter weight of this item,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence, then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **