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AMIS**, MARTIN : SUCCESS

LONDON.JONATHAN CAPE LTD.,1978.

ISBN 0224015710.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.[Ex-Public Library.] VG-/VG-. Library's black ink oblong stamps (2 each) to both the front and rear pastedowns with both the front and rear free endpapers glued to same and obscuring the legibility of their lettering,a subsequent owner's handwritten pair of blue ink initials above the 'M' of Martin on the title page which also has a black ink alpha-numerical library number to its reverse,no other library notation or stamps present, and the dw/dj has a price-clip.Bright,crisp,clean,glossy, wrap-around red background,with capitalised yellow-lettered title and capitalised,black-lettered author's name to front panel of dw/dj, spine/backstrip with minimal fade and similarly coloured+lettered author+title as front and publisher's red+black lettered+illustrated colophon,to foot of same,rear panel with white single line ruled border to author's b/w photographic side profile portrait and his capitalised,black-lettered name below it.Some minimal shelf-wear of rubbing+ miniscule chipping with miniscule loss,to edges and lower corner tips due in part to laminate breakdown. Both head and foot of spine/backstrip of dw/dj with some chipping and colour paper loss - the foot more so than the head,and gentle pushing to head+foot of boards spine.Top two corner tips with miniscule rubbing/chipping and reciprocal colour paper loss – but no major, tears or splits present.Superficial scoring and creasing to front panel of dw/dj,rear panel with similar light scoring and other wrinkles but without any penetration to respective board beneath.Dw/dj's rear inner flap with wrinkled laminate strip and an approx. 1" vertical closed tear at top+bottom beside the laminate strip but to the unlaminated paper of the inner flap.Top edges without any trace of yellow topstain,but is slightly aged/toned with minimal sporadic foxing/spotting, fore-edges less aged/toned and slightly brighter,clean with one blemish - thicker paper than usual/normal has been used in the production by the publisher - so appears deckled (untrimmed).Contents bright,tight,generally clean with some minor,minimal,sporadic and random foxing,else solid - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips,appears unread,other than my own collation.Publisher's bright,clean,generally sharp-cornered - exception of top two tips with minor pushing - original plain black paper-covered boards with spine/backstrip's rear gutter's fold/crease with an approx. 3/4" split at it's head,and bright, crisp,blocked gilt lettered and gilt illustrated publisher's colophon to remainder,and clean plain white verso+recto of front+rear glued free endpapers respectively.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,7-224pp [paginated] includes 12 [January to December] monthly chapters; plus [unpaginated] half-title+title pages,and a dedication with a blank reverse which has minimal blemishes. Described honestly and fairly. Author's 3rd novel.                 Visually the exterior appearance is acceptable, and even internally,the book is also in an acceptable,readable condition/state of presentation for a book of its age and nature, i.e. an ex-public library book.It is only the faults described that prevents a slightly higher grading.Despite them,it really is still a desirable stop-gap filler copy.               Telling the story of two foster-brothers, Gregory Riding and Terry Service,and their rising and falling fortunes. This was the first example of Amis's fondness for symbolically "pairing" characters in his novels,which has been a recurrent feature in his fiction since [Martin Amis and Martina Twain in 'Money', Richard Tull and Gwyn Barry in 'The Information',and Jennifer Rockwell and Mike Hoolihan in 'Night Train']                        Timid,balding and meaningfully short,Terence Service tiptoes through the flat and life of his flamboyant foster-brother,Gregory Riding. Terry can scarcely remember the last time a girl agreed to sleep with him,although he does occasionally glimpse the stray naked bit of some visitor to Gregory's bed as he creeps through to the kitchen. Keenly aware of the time-tested theory that sexual success is the surest guarantee of sexual success,Terry longs for a start of any kind.                               In 'Success' Martin Amis displays all the assured skill and irresistibly acid wit for which he was honoured with the Somerset Maugham Award in 1974.                                   Please contact seller,because of the lighter weight and the value 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,that 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 any inexpensive 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 AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **                                                        

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.
Not SIGNED.

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