The Margin, André Pierre de Mandiargues — 1st UK Edition

£30.50

The Margin, André Pierre de Mandiargues — 1st UK Edition

Name: The Margin, André Pierre de Mandiargues — 1st UK Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4055-RM-F-VG-9
Price: 30.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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£30.50

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Publication: London, Calder & Boyars Ltd, 1969

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [vi], 216.

Condition Report Very Good. Original red cloth boards remain bright, clean, and rigid, with sharp corners and unbumped extremities. The binding is tight and square, demonstrating little to no shelf-wear. Internally, the text block is clean and free from previous ownership signatures, inscriptions, or significant foxing, though the page edges exhibit the standard, uniform mild toning typical of the paper stock from this era. The striking photographic dust jacket is unclipped and presents excellently, maintaining its crisp monochrome contrast and red typography. It shows only minor superficial rubbing along the top edge and spine ends, with no significant chips, tears, or fading. A loose contemporary newspaper review clipping of the book has been laid in by a previous owner.

Catalogue Note First UK Edition. The novel was translated into English by the acclaimed American poet and translator Richard Howard. Originally published in France as La Marge by Éditions Gallimard in 1967, the book won the prestigious Prix Goncourt, France's most coveted literary award. Calder & Boyars were instrumental in bringing avant-garde and transgressive European literature to the British public, and this edition exemplifies their commitment to modern French fiction. The inclusion of a contemporary newspaper review clipping laid into the text provides a charming piece of ephemera that captures the contemporary critical reception of Howard's translation.

The Margin is a masterful exploration of existential detachment and surrealist wandering. The narrative follows Sigismond, a Frenchman who travels to Barcelona on business. Upon arriving, he receives a letter from his rural home that he intuitively senses contains terrible news regarding his wife. Choosing to leave the letter unopened, Sigismond retreats into a self-imposed "margin" of reality. He spends three days wandering the vibrant, labyrinthine, and sordid streets of Barcelona's red-light district, engaging with prostitutes, observing the city's underbelly, and delaying the inevitable intrusion of tragedy. Mandiargues blends profound psychological observation with vivid, almost hallucinatory prose, creating a poignant study of grief, denial, and the human condition.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: André Pierre de Mandiargues

Book Publisher: Calder & Boyars

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Modern Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 216

Book Publication Year: 1969

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Cloth

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London & Edinburgh, 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.