{"product_id":"talking-j-b-priestley-1st-edition","title":"Talking, J. B. Priestley — 1st Edition","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublication:\u003c\/b\u003e London, Jarrolds, 1926.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormatting:\u003c\/b\u003e 8vo, pp. 86.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Report:\u003c\/b\u003e Very Good. The book is tightly bound and square, retaining a firm structural integrity without any lean to the spine. Housed in a clear, removable protective sleeve, the original brown cloth boards have been remarkably well-preserved, remaining entirely free from the heavy shelf-wear or fading typical of this era. The gilt lettering and tooling to the spine remain wonderfully bright, sharp, and completely unoxidised. The text block's top edge shows only mild, age-appropriate darkening, while the fore-edge remains clean. Internally, the pages are crisp and bright, free from significant foxing, moisture damage, or extraneous marks. A previous owner's pencilled signature is present to the front free endpaper. Overall, a highly presentable and carefully maintained copy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCatalogue Note:\u003c\/b\u003e This is the first trade edition of J. B. Priestley's essay \u003ci\u003eTalking\u003c\/i\u003e, published as a constituent volume in the \u003ci\u003eThese Diversions\u003c\/i\u003e series. The work features a handsome, tinted frontispiece portrait of the author.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePre-dating his major breakthrough novels, this volume offers a pristine glimpse into the conversational, observational style that would ultimately define his career. Surviving copies in this condition, with bright cloth and sharp gilt—are genuinely uncommon on the open market, as the fragile bindings of the period were highly susceptible to handling wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eTalking\u003c\/i\u003e, J. B. Priestley delivers a characteristically witty and insightful rumination on the psychology and art of conversation. With the observational warmth and gentle satire that would later cement his status as a giant of 20th-century English literature, Priestley dissects the nuances of social interaction, human idiosyncrasies, and the simple pleasures of a good chat. A charming and timeless essay that captures the quintessential voice of one of Britain's most beloved literary figures.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Broadhursts Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54483601621331,"sku":"4013","price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/1469\/6787\/files\/20260729_160451.jpg?v=1785846845","url":"https:\/\/broadhurstsbooks.com\/products\/talking-j-b-priestley-1st-edition","provider":"Broadhursts Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}