Brother Cain (Signed)
London: Anthony Blond, 1959. First Edition. Hardcover. First Impression of the author's second novel, about an assassin newly recruited by a clandestine organization bent on world domination. His first mission is to assassinate an American diplomat in Venice. Signed and dated directly to the title page, "Simon Raven / April, 1980." Small 8vo: [4],247,[1]pp. Publisher's cloth-effect paper-covered boards, spine stamped in gilt, pictorial dust jacket illustrated by Oliver Carson, priced 15s. Near Fine or better (dusty cop edge, slight crease to spine); about Fine jacket (brief edge-wear). Hubin IV 1250. Near Fine+ / Fine-. Item #BB1715
According to The Guardian, Simon Raven's avowed passion, along with "alcohol, lechery and the turf", was cricket, and his 1981 memoir, Shadows On the Grass, was "the filthiest book on cricket ever written." Raven's death occasioned, in The Guardian, the most hilariously brilliant obituary any author could desire. Some excerpts: "The death of Simon Raven, at the age of 73, after suffering a stroke, is proof that the devil looks after his own. He ought, by rights, to have died of shame at 30, or of drink at 50. Instead, he survived to produce 25 novels, including Alms For Oblivion (1959-76) and The First Born Of Egypt sequence (1984-92), which contains requests such as 'Darling mummy, please may I be circumcised?' and 'Please, sir, may I bugger you, sir?' . . . How to explain this total one-off character, who combined elements of Flashman, Waugh's Captain Grimes and the Earl of Rochester (though, unlike Rochester, he died an unrepentant pagan)? . . . Simon devised this epitaph for himself: 'He shared his bottle—and, when still young and appetising, his bed'." Highly recommended reading. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, with dust jackets carefully preserved in archival, removable polypropylene sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).
Price: $86.00