Nerve

London: Michael Joseph, 1964. First Edition. Hardcover. Fine/Fine-. First Impression of the author's second novel, basis of the audio drama Breaking Point, starring Michael Kitchen. Crown 8vo (183 x 118mm): 238pp. Publisher's forest green cloth, spine lettered in gilt; illustrated dust jacket by Trevor Denning, priced 16s. A superlative copy, tightly bound (apparently unread) and clean throughout (top and fore-edges lightly spotted); about Fine jacket (orange on spine panel lightened to yellow). Someone is trying to destroy the lives of jockeys all over England. Francis was himself a steeplechase jockey, winning more than 350 races and becoming champion jockey of the British National Hunt. In 1956, as jockey to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, he rode Devon Loch in the Grand National. On the final straight, in front of the royal box just 40 yards from the winning post and five lengths ahead, Devon Loch collapsed. Francis later retired from the turf and began writing crime novels, more than forty of which became international bestsellers. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, with dust jackets carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).