Missing Man, Peter Hoyle — 1st Edition

Name: Missing Man, Peter Hoyle — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6018
Price: 120.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: Ilfracombe, Arthur H. Stockwell Ltd, 2002

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [vi], 134, [2].

Condition Report: Near Fine. The original printed wrappers remain exceptionally bright and crisp, showing only the faintest signs of shelf-wear, most notably a touch of minor rubbing to the extreme corners and the head of the spine. The spine itself is completely uncreased, indicating the volume has likely never been fully opened or read. The binding is remarkably tight and square. Internally, the pages are clean, bright, and completely free from foxing, markings, or blemishes across the text block edges, presenting an excellent, well-preserved example.

Catalogue Note: First Edition, self-published private printing. This particular copy is significantly enhanced by an exceptional piece of provenance: loosely laid in is a partly-typed, partly-autograph note signed (TLS/ANS) from the author, Peter Hoyle, addressed to "Dear Tom". In this note, Hoyle confirms the extreme scarcity of the volume, writing: "This is one of a very small private edition I had done recently. After several years of trying, the chances of 'MISSING MAN' being published commercially are very remote". He concludes the letter with a handwritten sign-off and a personal comment reflecting on films by Marcel Carné and Marcel Pagnol, signed "Peter".

Arthur H. Stockwell Ltd was a long-standing independent publisher often utilised for private press or vanity printings, and Hoyle’s letter confirms that this novel was strictly produced in a minuscule run for private circulation among friends and colleagues. Consequently, the book is exceptionally scarce on the open market, with almost no institutional or retail copies documented.

A darkly comic and intriguing tale of paranoia, Missing Man follows the eccentric 'H,' a mysterious figure and possible ex-Nazi, who lives in constant fear of enemies with a minder, the narrator, who encourages these fears to make himself indispensable. The obsession with enemies leads to an attack on a young female intruder discovered living rough in the cellars of the large house where they have rooms. Assuming she is dead, the two men flee abroad, and in the Austrian Tyrol, H gives his minder the slip. Subsequently, the narrator believes his employer has been murdered because, as a fugitive, he poses a threat to an old Nazi friend's new-found respectability. The naive and incompetent minder/narrator is a comic rather than evil character, and his dubious status links him to the persons of Baron Corvo (quoted in some chapter mottoes). The 'missing man' himself is known as H chiefly because the narrator likes to invest him with an air of mystery.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: Peter Hoyle

Book Publisher: Arthur H. Stockwell Ltd

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Humour Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: Yes

Book Pages:

Book Publication Year: 2002

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Paperback

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Ilfracombe, 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.