The Planetarium, Nathalie Sarraute — 1st Edition

£38.90

The Planetarium, Nathalie Sarraute — 1st Edition

Name: The Planetarium, Nathalie Sarraute — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6913
Price: 38.90 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, John Calder, 1961

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [iv], 296.

Condition Report: Very Good. The publisher's original red cloth binding remains remarkably firm and tight, with only trivial rubbing to the extremities and slight softening to the spine ends. The silver gilt lettering to the spine is bright and entirely unoxidized. Internally, the text block is sound; the pages are largely crisp and clean, displaying only minor, diffuse dusting to the top edge that does not intrude upon the text. The original dust jacket presents handsomely despite typical age-related wear, including minor edge-wear, shallow chipping at the spine extremities, and slight sun-fading, though it remains unclipped and is now protected in a removable mylar sleeve.

Catalogue Note: First English Edition. Translated from the original French by Maria Jolas.

Nathalie Sarraute's masterpiece, The Planetarium, was first published in France in 1959 to immense critical acclaim, solidifying her reputation at the forefront of the Nouveau Roman (New Novel) movement. This 1961 John Calder edition marks the true first appearance of the novel in the UK.

The volume is presented in its distinctively designed, striking dust jacket. True first English editions of this seminal work in the original cloth and jacket have become increasingly uncommon on the open market, particularly without heavy fading.

A seminal work of the French Nouveau Roman movement, The Planetarium explores the microscopic psychological undercurrents, or 'tropisms,' that dictate human behaviour. The narrative orbits around a young, socially ambitious writer and his wife, mapping their obsessive manoeuvring to secure a larger Parisian apartment. Through shifting perspectives and an intense focus on the unspoken anxieties of its characters, Sarraute dismantles the traditional novel, offering a brilliant, claustrophobic satire of bourgeois life and social ambition.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Nathalie Sarraute

Book Publisher: John Calder

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Modern Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 296

Book Publication Year: 1961

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

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.