The Soldier's Art, Anthony Powell — 1st Edition

£135.00

The Soldier's Art, Anthony Powell — 1st Edition

Name: The Soldier's Art, Anthony Powell — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4035
Price: 135.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, William Heinemann Ltd, 1966

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [viii], 228.

Condition Report: Near Fine. A bright, structurally sound first edition, first printing. The original red cloth binding remains tight and square with sharp spine ends, exhibiting only the faintest hint of edge rubbing. The black and gilt title label to the spine remains unoxidised and highly legible. Internally, the text block is complete and tightly bound; there is light, typical scattered foxing to the page edges and minor, barely perceptible toning to the endpapers, but the pages are otherwise cleanly presented and free of major flaws. The unclipped dust jacket (“21s net”) is remarkably well-preserved, retaining its vibrant colours with no significant fading to the spine panel. It shows only minor rubbing to the corners and extremities, gracefully avoiding the heavier wear and chipping often seen with this title. Overall, a superior, highly attractive collector's copy.

Catalogue Note: First edition, first printing. The eighth novel in Powell's monumental twelve-volume sequence, A Dance to the Music of Time, and the second book in his war trilogy. The dust jacket features the striking original artwork by James Arnold (working under the pseudonym Broom-Lynne), incorporating geometric architectural and military motifs.

While the Heinemann first editions of Powell’s later Dance volumes were printed in relatively solid numbers, copies that have survived with dust jackets in this vibrant, unsunned, and unclipped condition are becoming increasingly scarce on the open market, as collectors continue to seek out pristine individual volumes to complete their sets.

The Soldier's Art continues Anthony Powell's masterful exploration of mid-twentieth-century British life, plunging his narrator, Nick Jenkins, deep into the bureaucratic absurdities and quiet tragedies of the Second World War. Set against the backdrop of the Blitz and a provincial army base, Powell weaves a psychologically nuanced tale of military dislocation, personal rivalries, and the enduring human spirit. With his trademark ironic detachment and profound social observation, this pivotal eighth instalment in A Dance to the Music of Time captures the surreal atmosphere of a nation at war, blending bleak comedy with the inescapable realities of loss.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: Anthony Powell

Book Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Modern Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 228

Book Publication Year: 1966

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: A Dance to the Music of Time

Country/region of manufacture: Crawley, Sussex, 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.