A War Quartet, George MacBeth

Name: A War Quartet, George MacBeth
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6896
Price: 17.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Macmillan and Co Ltd, 1970

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 79.

Condition Report: Near Fine. A remarkably sharp and well-preserved example of this slim paperback, free from the heavy creasing or fading often found in poetry wrappers of this era. The binding is firm and square, with an uncreased spine indicating the book has seen little to no use. Externally, the covers remain bright and largely clean, save for very faint handling wear and negligible rubbing to the extreme edges. Internally, the pages are crisp, bright, and completely free of foxing, marks, or annotations. A highly presentable copy of a fragile production.

Catalogue Note: This copy represents an early paperback issue of George MacBeth's A War Quartet, released as part of the "Macmillan Poets" series. Originally issued in hardback the previous year, this softcover reprint made MacBeth's documentary surrealist examination of the Second World War accessible to a broader readership.

The edition features a striking cover design that collages wartime imagery, an aesthetic perfectly suited to the author's attempt to filter the conflict through a traumatic, dream-like lens. Unsigned, trade paperbacks of this title have become relatively uncommon on the open market in such well-preserved condition, as their slim, glued-spine formats were highly susceptible to wear, foxing, and spine failure over the decades.

In A War Quartet, renowned Scottish poet George MacBeth explores four major turning points of the Second World War: the Battle of Alamein, the Battle of Britain, the Battle of the Atlantic, and the Battle of Stalingrad. Describing his approach as "documentary surrealism," MacBeth channels the trauma of a war he was too young to fight in but too old to forget, transforming historical combat into vivid, dream-like poetic landscapes.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: George MacBeth

Book Publisher: Macmillan and Co Ltd

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Poetry

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages: 79

Book Publication Year: 1970

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Paperback

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: Macmillan Poets

Country/region of manufacture: Plymouth, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.