You Were There, Caryl Brahms & S. J. Simon — 1st Edition

£40.00

You Were There, Caryl Brahms & S. J. Simon — 1st Edition

Name: You Were There, Caryl Brahms & S. J. Simon — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6115
Price: 40.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Michael Joseph, 1950

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 304.

Condition Report: Very Good. The pale green cloth binding remains secure, tight, and wonderfully clean, showing only the slightest shelf-wear and minor softening to the spine extremities. Internally, the text block is sound; the mid-century wove paper exhibits uniform, age-appropriate toning alongside occasional light spotting and foxing, which is largely confined to the preliminary leaves and text block edges. A neat, contemporary ink gift inscription ('To my dear Wife, to remind her of a happy weekend. S.') is present on the half-title page. The striking original photomontage dust jacket is remarkably well-preserved and unclipped (retaining the 10s. 6d. net flap price); it remains vibrant with only faint edge-creasing, mild rubbing, and slight darkening to the spine panel, justifying a strong grade for a vintage mid-century jacket.

Catalogue Note: This is a true first edition, first printing of Caryl Brahms and S. J. Simon's final collaborative novel, published posthumously following Simon’s unexpected death in 1948. Brahms completed the manuscript alone, presenting a satirical, nostalgic chronicle of British life spanning from the death of Queen Victoria to 1928.

The volume retains its original and highly evocative photomontage dust jacket, encapsulating the chaotic, theatrical spirit of the early twentieth century.

Finding mid-century comic novels with their fragile original dust jackets in such complete, unchipped condition is increasingly scarce on the open market, making this a particularly appealing acquisition for collectors of period humour and theatrical fiction.

A vivid, laugh-out-loud romp through the first three decades of the twentieth century, You Were There is less a conventional novel than a chaotic, fictionalised newsreel. Chronicling the fortunes of the old General Gamble and his four oddly conceived children, Brahms and Simon deliver their trademark irreverence and wit, affectionately lampooning the theatrical milestones, cultural shifts, and societal eccentricities that defined the era. Whether you were there acting your own busy part, or simply wish you had been, this hilarious cavalcade is a delightful testament to one of British comedy's most successful literary partnerships.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Caryl Brahms & S. J. Simon

Book Publisher: Michael Joseph

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Humour Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 304

Book Publication Year: 1950

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.