Rabelais, John Cowper Powys — 1st Edition

£70.00

Rabelais, John Cowper Powys — 1st Edition

Name: Rabelais, John Cowper Powys — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4699
Price: 70.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

Write Review

In stock

£70.00

Shipping is calculated at checkout.

Publication: London, The Bodley Head, 1948

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 424.

Condition Report: Very Good. The original teal cloth binding remains firm and remarkably bright, with the gilt lettering to the spine still largely sharp and unoxidised, demonstrating minimal shelf-wear to the extremities. The text block is square and tight; internally, the pages are clean, save for typical age-toning and moderate foxing restricted primarily to the prelims and page edges. There is a neat institutional ink stamp (Caxton Press Ltd., Kuala Lumpur) to the front pastedown and free endpaper. The most notable flaw is pronounced tape ghosting and offsetting to both the free endpapers and the dust jacket flaps, indicative of a historical protective wrapper. The original dust jacket, retaining its '15s NET' price, presents well with striking cover art, exhibiting only minor rubbing and faint edge-wear, predominantly at the spine ends, alongside the aforementioned tape offsetting to the verso and flaps.

Catalogue Note: This is a true first printing of Powys's sweeping and idiosyncratic study of François Rabelais. The volume represents a significant intellectual endeavour by the author, combining a biographical account of the French Renaissance humanist with newly translated selections of his work and an esoteric interpretation of his philosophy.

While reading copies of this title frequently appear on the secondary market stripped of their jackets, finding a copy that retains its original dust jacket, particularly one that remains unclipped and features the vibrant, unfaded black and yellow artwork by P. Vinten, is increasingly uncommon. The jacket’s survival elevates this copy into a highly collectible state for enthusiasts of Powys’s eclectic literary criticism.

In this monumental and deeply personal study, John Cowper Powys turns his formidable intellect toward François Rabelais, one of literature's greatest and most boisterous humanists. Powys does not merely recount the life of the creator of Gargantua and Pantagruel; he offers original, vigorous translations of key passages and delves into Rabelais's profound 'religion' of common sense and joy. Written with Powys's characteristic fervour and mysticism, the book champions Rabelais as a timeless antidote to intellectual pretension and spiritual despair. It is an essential work that bridges the gap between the Renaissance giant and the modern reader, filtered through the lens of one of the twentieth century's most unique literary minds.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: John Cowper Powys

Book Publisher: The Bodley Head

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Criticism & Essays

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 424

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.