Curfew, José Donoso — 1st English Edition

£35.50

Curfew, José Donoso — 1st English Edition

Name: Curfew, José Donoso — 1st English Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4131-RM-F-VG-9
Price: 35.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

In stock

£35.50

Shipping is calculated at checkout.

Publication: London, Pan Books Ltd (Picador), 1990

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [vi], 310.

Condition Report: Near Fine. The binding remains remarkably tight, square, and unmarred, exhibiting excellent preservation of the underlying boards. The text block is impressively clean and bright, with only the faintest trace of superficial spotting to the top edge while the fore and bottom edges remain pristine. The original dust jacket retains its vibran, unfaded coloration and striking graphic design. It shows sharp edges with only negligible shelf wear restricted to the extreme tips, remaining entirely free from any significant creases, tears, or scuffs.

Catalogue Note: A superb First UK Edition, First Printing of the Picador issue. Originally published in Spain in 1986 under the title La Desesperanza, this English translation by Alfred MacAdam adeptly brings Donoso's critically acclaimed narrative to the Anglophone market.

The striking dust jacket features bold geometric and architectural motifs that flawlessly capture the pervasive atmosphere of the text. Copies surviving in such pristine, collector's-grade condition without fading or significant edgewear are becoming increasingly uncommon on the open market.

Set against the oppressive backdrop of Augusto Pinochet's regime in 1985 Chile, Curfew unfolds over a singular, profoundly tense twenty-four-hour period following the death of Matilde Neruda, widow of the Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda. As disparate political factions vie to exploit her funeral for their own agendas, Donoso brilliantly dissects a fractured society grasping for meaning, authority, and survival. At the narrative's core is the tragic reunion of Judit Torre, a haunted political radical desperate to escape her bitter past, and Mañungo Vera, an expatriate pop singer returning to a homeland he barely recognizes. Donoso’s masterful prose bridges documentary realism with poignant absurdity, delivering a profound meditation on life, art, and the suffocating nature of a country gripped by dictatorship.

ISBN: 0330311573

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: José Donoso

Book Publisher: Picador

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Modern Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 310

Book Publication Year: 1990

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Cloth

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.