The Middle Age of Mrs Eliot, Angus Wilson — 1st Edition

£69.80

The Middle Age of Mrs Eliot, Angus Wilson — 1st Edition

Name: The Middle Age of Mrs Eliot, Angus Wilson — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6758
Price: 69.80 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Martin Secker & Warburg Ltd, 1958

Formatting: Crown 8vo, pp. 430.

Condition Report: Very Good. The binding remains remarkably tight and square, bound in the publisher's original brown cloth which is clean and fresh, with the gilt lettering to the spine remaining bright and entirely unoxidised. Internally, the textblock appears well-preserved and free of prior ownership signatures, though there is some light age-toning and mild dust-soiling to the top edge, typical for paper stock of this era. The original unclipped dust jacket displaying its 18s. net. price is preserved in highly respectable condition; it exhibits some minor rubbing and light edge-wear to the extremities, alongside slight sun-darkening to the spine panel and rear, yet it remains a highly attractive pictorial example without any major loss or significant tears.

Catalogue Note: First edition, first impression. A highly presentable copy of Angus Wilson's celebrated mid-century novel, which was awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize in the year of its publication.

The book is presented in its original, striking dust jacket designed by the prominent British artist and sculptor Michael Ayrton, featuring his distinctive illustrative style that captures the psychological depth of Wilson's protagonist.

While first editions of Wilson's works from this period are not exceptionally rare on the open market, locating a copy that retains such a bright, unclipped dust jacket, without the heavy wear or institutional stamps often afflicting this title, makes this a desirable acquisition for collectors of modern British literature.

The Middle Age of Mrs Eliot is a profound and meticulously observed character study exploring the sudden and tragic widowhood of Meg Eliot, a previously comfortable and socially adept barrister's wife. Following the shocking murder of her husband at an airport in the fictional Far Eastern country of Badai, Meg is abruptly forced to navigate a drastically reduced financial and social reality in mid-twentieth-century England. As her former privileged existence collapses, she embarks on a poignant and often difficult journey of self-discovery, resilience, and independence, offering readers a deeply sensitive and moving portrait of a woman attempting to rebuild her life and identity from the ground up.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Angus Wilson

Book Publisher: Martin Secker & Warburg Ltd

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Modern Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 430

Book Publication Year: 1958

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Michael Ayrton

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.