DraftCritical Essays, George Orwell — 1st Edition

£80.00

DraftCritical Essays, George Orwell — 1st Edition

Name: DraftCritical Essays, George Orwell — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4962
Price: 80.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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£80.00

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Publication: London, Secker and Warburg, 1946

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 169, [2].

Condition Report: Good. The original crimson cloth binding remains structurally sound and tight, though it exhibits noticeable sun-fading, particularly along the spine, alongside general shelf-wear and slight bumping to the extremities. The front board bears a distinct previous owner's ink notation ("Wolves" and a small "H") situated just beneath the gilt author name, as well as a few minor superficial scuffs. Despite these external flaws, the gilt lettering to both the spine and front board remains reasonably bright and entirely legible. Internally, the text block is securely bound and the hinges are firm. There is moderate age-toning throughout, as is standard for the authorised economy paper of this era, accompanied by light dusting and minor foxing to the top edge and preliminary leaves. The text itself remains clean, unmarked, and highly readable. Lacks the original dust jacket.

Catalogue Note: This is a true first edition, first printing of Orwell’s highly influential collection of literary and cultural criticism. Preceding the subsequent second impression issued just a few months later, this volume was produced in strict conformity with authorised wartime economy standards, as clearly noted on the copyright page.

Due to the inherent fragility of the economy paper utilised during this period, securing first printings that remain tightly bound and structurally sound is becoming increasingly difficult on the open market. While this copy lacks the scarce and highly sought-after original dust jacket, it stands as a sturdy, handleable representative of Orwell's transition into his late-career analytical mastery.

Blurb: Driven by a desire to rescue his most incisive cultural analyses from the ephemerality of magazine publication, George Orwell compiled these ten pieces to serve as a lasting record of his critical thought. The essays range from pioneering sociological studies of popular phenomena, such as boys' weeklies and the comic postcards of Donald McGill, to profound evaluations of literary giants including Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, W. B. Yeats, and P. G. Wodehouse. By applying a sociopolitical and anthropological lens to the written word, Orwell broke new critical ground, cementing his reputation not just as a dystopian novelist, but as one of the most gifted and non-conforming essayists of the twentieth century.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: George Orwell

Book Publisher: Secker and Warburg

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Criticism & Essays

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 169

Book Publication Year: 1946

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.