The Heart of the Matter - Inscribed -
Graham Greene
1948 - William Heinemann Ltd, London - First Edition
First edition of this classic tale of diamond smuggling and blackmail in a British Colony in West Africa.
Inscribed by Greene ‘For Max, With love from Graham’, and with a rare example of the publisher’s alternative wraparound band.
‘The Heart of the Matter’ was enormously popular upon release, selling more than 300,000 copies in the UK alone. The novel won the 1948 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction, and was ranked 40th on the Modern Library's list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century, in 1998. In 2005, the book featured in Time Magazine's 'One Hundred Best English-language Novels, 1923 to Present'. As recently as 2012, Greene's ever-popular novel was shortlisted for the 'Best of the James Tait Black' awards, which are given in three categories: Fiction, Biography and Drama, since 1919.
‘To me the idea of willing my own damnation for the love of God is either a very loose poetical expression or a mad blasphemy, for the God who accepted that sacrifice could be neither just nor loveable.’ - Evelyn Waugh on ‘The Heart of the Matter’. First edition - ‘William Heinemann Ltd’ to the title page (book society edition issued at the same time states ‘William Heinemann Ltd & The Book Society Ltd’); ‘First Published 1948’ to verso with no additional printings listed (book society edition states ‘This edition issued on first publication by the book society, ltd., in association with William Heinemann Ltd May 1948’).
First edition dust jacket - front flap with ‘Book Society Choice’ printed about two inches above the lower edge, and price ‘9s 6d net’ to lower corner, one of two states, the other is without ‘Book Society Choice’ wording.
Wraparound band one of two states, this one in cream with ‘Book Society Choice’ and ‘Evening Standard Book-of-the-Month’ in green lettering, the other slightly more common band is green colour with only ‘Book Society Choice’ in white lettering.
References: Wise & Hill, The Works of Graham Greene, A15. Wobbe, Graham Greene - A Bibliography and Guide to Research, A21a. Steinbrunner & Penzler, Encyclopaedia of Mystery & Detection, 176.
Octavo (book size 18.8x12.8cm), pp. [6] 297 [1]. Publisher’s dark blue cloth, spine lettered in silver, top edge tinted red, light brown cream coloured endpapers. Dust jacket priced ‘9s 6d net’ to lower corner of front flap. Wraparound band split into two parts along spine fold. Condition: Very good, rubbing and sunning to spine, endpapers toned, in very good dust jacket, panels bright and clean, some wear to corners and spine ends, spine mostly faded to a tan colour to which it is prone, wraparound band split in two parts along spine fold. Ref: 110362 Price: HK$ 32,000
Inscribed by Greene ‘For Max, With love from Graham’, and with a rare example of the publisher’s alternative wraparound band.
‘The Heart of the Matter’ was enormously popular upon release, selling more than 300,000 copies in the UK alone. The novel won the 1948 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction, and was ranked 40th on the Modern Library's list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century, in 1998. In 2005, the book featured in Time Magazine's 'One Hundred Best English-language Novels, 1923 to Present'. As recently as 2012, Greene's ever-popular novel was shortlisted for the 'Best of the James Tait Black' awards, which are given in three categories: Fiction, Biography and Drama, since 1919.
‘To me the idea of willing my own damnation for the love of God is either a very loose poetical expression or a mad blasphemy, for the God who accepted that sacrifice could be neither just nor loveable.’ - Evelyn Waugh on ‘The Heart of the Matter’. First edition - ‘William Heinemann Ltd’ to the title page (book society edition issued at the same time states ‘William Heinemann Ltd & The Book Society Ltd’); ‘First Published 1948’ to verso with no additional printings listed (book society edition states ‘This edition issued on first publication by the book society, ltd., in association with William Heinemann Ltd May 1948’).
First edition dust jacket - front flap with ‘Book Society Choice’ printed about two inches above the lower edge, and price ‘9s 6d net’ to lower corner, one of two states, the other is without ‘Book Society Choice’ wording.
Wraparound band one of two states, this one in cream with ‘Book Society Choice’ and ‘Evening Standard Book-of-the-Month’ in green lettering, the other slightly more common band is green colour with only ‘Book Society Choice’ in white lettering.
References: Wise & Hill, The Works of Graham Greene, A15. Wobbe, Graham Greene - A Bibliography and Guide to Research, A21a. Steinbrunner & Penzler, Encyclopaedia of Mystery & Detection, 176.
Octavo (book size 18.8x12.8cm), pp. [6] 297 [1]. Publisher’s dark blue cloth, spine lettered in silver, top edge tinted red, light brown cream coloured endpapers. Dust jacket priced ‘9s 6d net’ to lower corner of front flap. Wraparound band split into two parts along spine fold. Condition: Very good, rubbing and sunning to spine, endpapers toned, in very good dust jacket, panels bright and clean, some wear to corners and spine ends, spine mostly faded to a tan colour to which it is prone, wraparound band split in two parts along spine fold. Ref: 110362 Price: HK$ 32,000