The Flanders Road, Claude Simon — 1st UK Edition

£58.50

The Flanders Road, Claude Simon — 1st UK Edition

Name: The Flanders Road, Claude Simon — 1st UK Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4086-RM-F-VG-9
Price: 58.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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£58.50

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Publication: London, Jonathan Cape, 1961

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 320.

Condition Report: Near Fine; Very Good+ dust jacket. The book presents beautifully, bound in tight, square dark cloth boards that show virtually no shelf-wear. The gilt tooling and publisher's emblem to the spine remain exceptionally bright, a testament to its careful preservation. Internally, the text block is clean and firmly seated, with only the faintest age-toning to the page margins, typical of the paper stock from this period. The dust jacket is remarkably well-preserved, retaining its striking cover graphics without the usual heavy fading, showing only trivial wear to the extremities and slight toning to the rear panel. Remains unclipped, still bearing the original "21s. net" price on the front flap, and is now protected in a removable clear sleeve.

Catalogue Note: First UK Edition of Claude Simon's masterpiece, originally published in France as La Route des Flandres by Les Editions de Minuit. It was translated into English by the esteemed Richard Howard. The rear panel of the jacket features enthusiastic endorsements for Simon's earlier novel The Grass, from prominent publications like The Observer and The Times Literary Supplement, cementing his rising reputation in the British literary scene at the time.

The striking, abstract dust jacket design beautifully mirrors the fragmented narrative explored within the novel. Unclipped first editions in this condition, with the original 21 shillings price present and the binding's gilt gleaming, are increasingly scarce on the open market and represent a highly desirable acquisition for collectors of the Nouveau Roman.

Following his critical triumph with The Grass, Claude Simon’s The Flanders Road earned him the prestigious Prix de l'Express. Set during the chaos of war, the narrative delves into the subconscious, revealing its characters through fragments that gradually build into a complex mosaic. As a dragoon's memories unravel over the weeks, the tragic figure of his captain emerges—intertwined with the life of his jockey and his wife's lover. It is a profound, atmospheric tour de force of observation and modernist storytelling.

Book Condition: Fine

Book Authors: Claude Simon

Book Publisher: Jonathan Cape

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Modern Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 231

Book Publication Year: 1962

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Cloth

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.