The Girl in a Swing, Richard Adams — 1st Edition

£149.95

The Girl in a Swing, Richard Adams — 1st Edition

Name: The Girl in a Swing, Richard Adams — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5101
Price: 149.95 GBP
Availability: InStock

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£149.95

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Publication: London, Allen Lane, 1980.

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 397.

Condition Report: Fine. This copy presents in exceptional, investment-grade condition, appearing unread and meticulously stored since publication. The original dark green cloth binding is remarkably crisp, tight, and perfectly square, showing absolutely no evidence of shelf-wear, rubbing, or bumping to the extremities. The gilt floral tooling and lettering to the spine remain vivid and entirely unoxidised. Internally, the text block is pristine; the pages are bright, crisp, and completely free of foxing, spotting, or any previous ownership inscriptions. The original dust jacket is equally impressive, remaining bright, clean, and entirely whole without any chipping, tears, or creasing. Crucially, the jacket remains unclipped, retaining the original pricing on the front flap, making this an immaculate survivor of a fragile production.

Catalogue Note: This is a scarce and highly desirable suppressed first state of the first edition. Shortly after publication, the publisher withdrew the first printing and amended the text, replacing the primary character's name, 'Käthe Gutner', with 'Karin Foster' in all subsequent issues.

The dust jacket flap on this specific copy firmly establishes its first-state pedigree by explicitly retaining the original 'Käthe' references in the printed synopsis. Finding a true first state that escaped the publisher's recall is uncommon, but locating one in such immaculate, well-preserved condition is genuinely scarce on the open market.

The book features a printed dedication to Rosamond alongside a Greek epigraph. There are no binders' stamps, bookplates, or previous ownership signatures, ensuring the volume retains its original, untouched character.

In The Girl in a Swing, Richard Adams departs from the anthropomorphic realms of his earlier masterpieces to weave a deeply unsettling tale of psychological suspense and supernatural dread. The story follows Alan Desland, a mild-mannered English ceramics dealer whose life is upended when he impulsively marries the beautiful, enigmatic Käthe. As they settle into domesticity, their intense, overwhelming passion is increasingly overshadowed by a series of inexplicable and terrifying occurrences. Anchored by the discovery of a rare porcelain figurine, the narrative plunges into a haunting exploration of obsession, hidden pasts, and the inescapable consequences of buried secrets.

Book Condition: Fine

Book Authors: Richard Adams

Book Publisher: Allen Lane

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Thriller & Suspense

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 397

Book Publication Year: 1980

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Bungay, Suffolk, 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.