An Awfully Big Adventure, Beryl Bainbridge — 1st Edition

£25.00

An Awfully Big Adventure, Beryl Bainbridge — 1st Edition

Name: An Awfully Big Adventure, Beryl Bainbridge — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6499
Price: 25.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Gerald Duckworth & Co. Ltd., 1989

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 193, [1].

Condition Report: Fine. This volume is in exceptional, collector-grade condition. The binding remains remarkably tight and perfectly square, displaying no reading lean, whilst the black cloth boards are exceptionally clean and free from any shelf-wear or bumping. The gilt lettering to the spine is wonderfully crisp, bright, and completely unoxidized. Internally, the text block is pristine, with the pages remaining bright and entirely free from foxing or age-toning. The original, unclipped dust jacket is similarly immaculate, retaining its net price without any fading, chipping, or creasing to the extremities, and is preserved in a clear archival sleeve.

Catalogue Note: This is a true first edition, first impression of Beryl Bainbridge’s acclaimed Booker Prize-shortlisted novel, presented in its original black boards and pictorial dust jacket. The rear panel features a striking photographic portrait of the author by Brendan King, while the front captures a quintessential 1950s theatre audience. The narrative famously inspired the 1995 film adaptation starring Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant.

True first printings in such immaculate, well-preserved condition, lacking any of the typical fading or handling wear, are increasingly uncommon on the open market, making this a superb collector's copy.

Set in the grim, post-war gloom of 1950s Liverpool, An Awfully Big Adventure follows fifteen-year-old Stella, a naive yet fiercely observant girl who joins a struggling repertory theatre company during their Christmas production of Peter Pan. As Stella navigates the claustrophobic, eccentric, and often predatory backstage politics of the troupe, her romantic infatuation with the callous director, Meredith Potter, spirals towards tragedy. Bainbridge’s masterful tragicomedy is a dark, unsentimental coming-of-age tale that brilliantly captures the sordid realities hidden behind the theatrical curtain.

Book Condition: Fine

Book Authors: Beryl Bainbridge

Book Publisher: Gerald Duckworth & Co. Ltd.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Modern Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 193

Book Publication Year: 1989

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Trowbridge, 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.