Confessions of Zeno Italo Svevo first edition vintage book cover

Confessions of Zeno, Otalo Svevo — 1st Edition

£159.50

Confessions of Zeno, Otalo Svevo — 1st Edition

Name: Confessions of Zeno, Otalo Svevo — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 3321-SD-F-VG-9
Price: 159.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

In stock

£159.50

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Condition

Very Good: Original unclipped dust jacket shows light wear to edges and corners, with minor rubbing at the head of the spine and some marking and staining to the rear panel; all text and artwork remain clear and legible. Original cloth binding displays light rubbing to edges and corners, with a small crease to the upper corner. Spine remains bright and upright, with lettering and decoration clear. Binding slightly shaken but firm. Internally, endpapers show light foxing; otherwise, pages are clean and bright throughout. A well-preserved and presentable copy overall.

Description

First American edition, published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1930, in original cloth with the scarce surviving dust jacket. Early English-language editions of Confessions of Zeno are notably uncommon. The presence of the original unclipped dust jacket significantly enhances collectibility, even with noted wear. As a key modernist work by Italo Svevo, whose reputation grew substantially after initial publication, early editions have become increasingly sought after. A desirable copy for collectors of modernist literature and important early 20th-century European fiction in translation.

Confessions of Zeno follows Zeno Cosini, a self-reflective and often unreliable narrator recounting his life, habits, and neuroses at the urging of his psychoanalyst. Through a series of episodic memories, ranging from his attempts to quit smoking to his complicated relationships and business ventures, Zeno reveals a deeply ironic and introspective portrait of human behaviour. Blending humour with psychological depth, the novel stands as a pioneering exploration of self-deception and modern consciousness.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Italo Svevo

Book Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Modern Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 408

Book Publication Year: 1930

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Cloth

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: United States

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.