The Earthsea Trilogy [A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA; THE TOMBS OF ATUAN; THE FARTHEST SHORE]

A Boy Wizard With A Scar

The Earthsea Trilogy [A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA; THE TOMBS OF ATUAN; THE FARTHEST SHORE]

By Ursula K. Le Guin

1971-1973

Set of the first UK editions of the first three books in the acclaimed Earthsea series, about a boy who attends a wizard school decades before Harry Potter — the first two books signed by Le Guin.

Overall fine.

Price: $4,000.00

The Earthsea Trilogy [A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA; THE TOMBS OF ATUAN; THE FARTHEST SHORE]

"I don't think Harry Potter would have existed without Earthsea existing." – Neil Gaiman, in the documentary WORLDS OF URSULA K. LE GUIN

The first three books in the Earthsea series, A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA, THE TOMBS OF ATUAN, and THE FARTHEST SHORE, are a fantastical bildungsroman, following the education and growing power of the wizard Ged. Le Guin would pick the series up again much later with TEHANU (1990).

The Earthsea books have become one of the most influential series in post-Tolkien fantasy despite, or perhaps because of, their consciously non-Western worldbuilding: Earthsea is an archipelago inhabited by characters who are not white, with no relation to a vaguely disguised Europe. Le Guin's profound study of Taoism is also a major feature of the trilogy. Above all, the beauty and depth of these books has established their lasting legacy in fantasy. A lovely, unusually fresh set, scarce signed.

The Object

First printings. London: Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1971-1973. 3 volumes, each 7.75'' x 4.75''. Original textured paper boards, gilt-stamped spines, original unclipped dust jackets (£1.25, £1.25, £1.60) designed by David Smee. 191, [1]; 159, [1]; 206, [2] pages. WIZARD and TOMBS signed by Le Guin in green ink to title pages, with additional (non-authorial) contemporary ink gift inscriptions to same recipient on front fly leaves; touch of sunning to jacket spines of first two volumes.

The Fine Print

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