Arthurian Torso, Charles Williams and C. S. Lewis — 1st Edition

£195.50

Arthurian Torso, Charles Williams and C. S. Lewis — 1st Edition

Name: Arthurian Torso, Charles Williams and C. S. Lewis — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4483
Price: 195.50 GBP
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Publication: London, Oxford University Press (Geoffrey Cumberlege), 1948

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 200.

Condition Report: Near Fine in a Very Good dust jacket. The publisher's original red cloth binding is remarkably tight, sharp, and entirely free of shelf-wear, presenting as an unread copy. Internally, the text block is exceptionally clean and bright with no foxing or oxidation, retaining crisp pages throughout. There is a standard, contemporary previous owner's signature dated 1948 to the front free endpaper. The original, unclipped dust jacket remains highly attractive and intact, exhibiting only faint age-toning to the spine and minor superficial handling wear to the extremities, successfully protecting the bright cloth beneath.

Catalogue Note: First Edition. Following the sudden death of Charles Williams in 1945, his fellow Inkling and close friend C. S. Lewis prepared this volume to present Williams's unfinished prose work, The Figure of Arthur. Rather than simply editing the fragment, Lewis provided a substantial and illuminating commentary on Williams’s already published Arthurian poetry, Taliessin Through Logres and The Region of the Summer Stars.

Unillustrated as issued, this volume is increasingly scarce on the open market when retaining its original dust jacket in such highly collectible condition. It stands as a vital piece of literary history, cementing the creative cross-pollination that defined the renowned Oxford literary group.

A poignant collaboration between two of the most celebrated members of the Oxford Inklings. Following the unexpected death of Charles Williams in 1945, C. S. Lewis took upon himself the task of bringing his friend's unfinished manuscript, The Figure of Arthur, to the public. To this prose fragment, Lewis added his own detailed and illuminating commentary on Williams’s Arthurian poetry. The result is Arthurian Torso—a rich, multifaceted exploration of the Arthurian mythos that serves both as a continuation of Williams's esoteric poetic vision and as a lasting testament to a profound literary friendship.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: Charles Williams, C. S. Lewis

Book Publisher: Oxford University Press

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Criticism & Essays

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 200

Book Publication Year: 1948

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, 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.