FAHRENHEIT 451

London: Rupert Hart-Davis, 1954. First U.K. Edition. Sharp copy of Bradbury's best-known work, based on his 1951 short story "The Fireman." "Totalitarian state outlaws virtually all books, especially the classics; an underground form of people who memorize great books to preserve them for posterity. The plot revolves around a "fireman's" conversion from book burner to preserver" (Barron, Anatomy of Wonder 3-61). Basis for François Truffaut's classic 1966 film, starring Oskar Werner and Julie Christie, and Ramin Bahrani's more recent adaptation for HBO, starring Michael B. Jordan and Michael Shannon. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, Vol.1, p.39; Sargent, p.121; Pringle 100. First Impression. Octavo (20.5cm); red paper-covered boards, with titles stamped in silver on spine; dustjacket; [8],9-158,[2]pp. Lower board corners gently tapped (though still sharp), else a fresh, very Near Fine copy. In the original dustjacket, unclipped (priced 9s.6d. net), showing the most trivial wear to extremities, and a few pinpoint rubbed spots to spine ends and corner tips; very Near Fine, with the spine panel notably bright and unfaded. Housed in a custom clamshell box by James Tapley, with a sheet of Fahrenheit 451 stationary signed by Bradbury inset on the inner cover.