The True Confession of George Barker, George Barker

£32.80

The True Confession of George Barker, George Barker

Name: The True Confession of George Barker, George Barker
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6470
Price: 32.80 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, The Parton Press, 1957.

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 40.

Condition Report: Near Fine. The book presents exceptionally well, bound in crisp, original black cloth with bright, unoxidised gilt lettering to the spine. The binding is remarkably tight and square, showing virtually no shelf-wear, while the board corners remain sharp and unbumped. Internally, the text block is clean and unmarked, exhibiting only mild, uniform age-toning to the page margins, consistent with the paper stock of the period. The original dust jacket is unclipped, retaining the 'Half a guinea' price on the front flap. It shows moderate age-toning, most notably along the spine panel and extremities, alongside minor rubbing to the top edges, but remains entirely intact without any significant tears or loss.

Catalogue Note: This 1957 issue by The Parton Press represents the first hardcover edition of the work, following its original 1950 pamphlet publication by Fore Publications. The Parton Press, renowned for championing prominent mid-century literary figures, provides a sturdy and handsome presentation for this significant poem. The volume is unillustrated and does not feature any notable ownership provenance or binders' stamps.

While the title is not exceptionally rare on the open market, finding copies that retain an intact, unclipped dust jacket in such well-preserved condition is increasingly uncommon.

The True Confession of George Barker is a sprawling, deeply personal, and highly controversial autobiographical poem that cemented Barker's reputation as a provocative voice in modern British literature. Drawing stylistic and thematic inspiration from Lord Byron's Don Juan, Barker delivers a frank, emotionally raw exploration of his own life, loves, and spiritual conflicts. Initially causing a public scandal when parts of it were broadcast on the BBC, the work remains a powerful testament to the confessional poetry movement, blending bawdy humour with profound existential reflection.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: George Barker

Book Publisher: The Parton Press

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Poetry

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages: 40

Book Publication Year: 1957

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.