Wise Blood

London: Neville Spearman, 1955. First edition. Cloth. Very Good/Good. 8" by 5.5". None. An uncommon first British edition of Flannery O'Connor's first novel, Wise Blood, in the original striking Guy Nicholls dust wrapper. The first British edition. First published in the US by Harcourt in 1952. In the original price clipped dust wrapper, designed by Guy Nicholls. Wise Blood is the first novel by American author Flannery O'Connor, and is an expanded version of her thesis work entitled 'The Train'. It tells the story of a World War Two veteran, who, after struggling with his faith, decides to set up an anti-religious ministry in a Southern town. Upon release, the work received little critical attention, but was later heralded as an important work of 'low comedy and high seriousness'. In the original publisher's orange cloth binding in the original price clipped dust wrapper. Externally very smart with just minor fading to the extremities of the spine and rear board, possibly caused by tape offsetting. Evidence of label removal to paste downs and very small chip to upper corner of front free endpaper. Dust wrapper is generally smart and has been reinforced with clear archival adhesive., which is beginning to chip to the tail of the spine. The occasional closed tear and spot to the wrap. Age toning to wrap. Internally firmly bound. Pages generally bright and clean with the odd spot. Very Good