The Place of the Skull, Chingiz Aitmatov — 1st English Edition

£32.50

The Place of the Skull, Chingiz Aitmatov — 1st English Edition

Name: The Place of the Skull, Chingiz Aitmatov — 1st English Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4132-RM-F-VG-9
Price: 32.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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£32.50

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Publication: London, Faber and Faber Limited, 1989

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 320.

Condition Report: Near Fine. The binding remains remarkably tight and square, structurally sound. The boards are straight and true, with clean, unmarred textblock edges showing only the faintest hint of age-related toning. Internally, the pages are crisp, bright, and completely free of foxing or previous ownership signatures. The original dust jacket is vibrant, with the surrealist illustration remaining vivid and free of notable fading, chipping, or creasing. There is negligible shelf-wear to the jacket's extremities, securing its status as an excellent collector's copy.

Catalogue Note: First UK edition and first English translation of Chingiz Aitmatov's landmark Soviet novel, translated from the original Russian by Natasha Ward.

The striking dust jacket features an illustration by Andrzej Klimowski, an appealing detail for collectors of late-20th-century jacket art. The rear panel includes a photograph of the author by Jurgen Seidel. This particular printing was photoset by Wilmaset in Birkenhead, Wirral, and printed by Richard Clay Ltd in Bungay, Suffolk. First English editions of this work in such well-preserved condition are increasingly uncommon on the open market.

Set against the vast, rugged steppes of Kirgizia, where grey wolves roam free, The Place of the Skull follows the intertwined fates of man and nature. Avidy Kallistratov, a young and messianic idealist, finds himself embedded with a desperate gang of drunken antelope hunters who deal in wanton environmental destruction. Struggling to reconcile his deep religious convictions and belief in true love with the brutality around him, Kallistratov's journey serves as a powerful critique of contemporary Soviet society. Addressing once-taboo subjects of the glasnost era, including drug abuse, corruption, the planned economy, and the role of religion, Aitmatov delivers a landmark novel marked by unprecedented openness, brutality, and profound compassion.

ISBN: 057114926X

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: Chingiz Aitmatov

Book Publisher: Faber & Faber

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Modern Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 310

Book Publication Year: 1989

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Cloth

Illustrator: Andrzej Klimowski (Jacket Illustration)

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.