The Birds of Paradise, Paul Scott — 1st Edition

£24.95

The Birds of Paradise, Paul Scott — 1st Edition

Name: The Birds of Paradise, Paul Scott — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6675
Price: 24.95 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1962.

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 264.

Condition Report: Very Good. The russet cloth boards remain firmly bound and square, retaining bright, unoxidised gilt lettering to the spine. The binding is notably tight. Internally, the text block is predominantly clean, though spotting and foxing are evident to the preliminary leaves, and the top edge is slightly dust-dulled, which is typical for the paper stock of this era. The original, unclipped dust jacket, retaining the original "18s net" price on the front flap, remains vibrant with strong colour preservation. It exhibits only light, standard shelf-wear to the extremities, mild rubbing along the folds, and faint age-toning to the rear panel.

Catalogue Note: This is a first edition, first impression of Paul Scott's sixth novel. Notably, this copy bears the "Book Society Choice" designation on the front panel of the dust jacket, indicating its selection by the prominent British literary club at the time of publication.

The volume features a striking, vivid wrap-around dust jacket illustration, while the rear panel displays a distinguished portrait of the author by noted photographer Mark Gerson.

While this first edition is relatively common on the open market, locating a copy with a well-preserved, unclipped dust jacket devoid of major tears or significant fading is increasingly desirable for collectors of mid-century British literature.

The Birds of Paradise follows the life of William Conway, the son of an influential figure in British India, as he navigates the waning days of the Empire and struggles to find purpose in a rapidly changing world. Sent back to England for his education, Conway finds himself caught between the exotic, romanticised memories of his childhood, symbolised by a cage of beautiful, captive birds of paradise, and the harsh, often disappointing realities of adulthood. Paul Scott masterfully explores themes of disillusionment, the search for meaning, and the inescapable weight of memory in this poignant and deeply atmospheric novel.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Paul Scott

Book Publisher: Eyre & Spottiswoode

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Modern Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 264

Book Publication Year: 1962

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Paulton, Near Bristol, 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.