First US edition of the eminent detective novelist's first book, introducing her longtime protagonist Adam Dalgliesh.
Near fine in very good plus jacket.
Price: $850.00
"Select Books preferred virtue to be rewarded and vice suitably punished. They eschewed salacity, avoided controversy and took no risks with unestablished writers."
James's first mystery exhibits all the steely moral chill characteristic of her acclaimed later works, never forgetting that we must not do a murder: not if the victim tastefully conceals her husband, not if she outrages us with clever hairdressing, and not even if she irritates her hardworking colleagues at the Select Book Club. With a contemporary librarian's blank review card laid in, still awaiting judgment on the book's Sordid, Stimulating, Trashy, Trivial, or Sexy appeal to Men, Women, and Children. A beautiful copy.
Read more: Reese, "The Salon Interview: P.D. James: The Art of Murder," salon.com; Boucher, "Criminals at Large," The New York Times.
First printing. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, (1966). 8'' x 5''. Original russet cloth. In original unclipped ($3.95) dust jacket designed by Marian Ebert. Publisher's code "A-6.66[v]" printed on title page verso. 254 pages. Printed review card for the Book Review Club of Greater Boston laid in. Slight lean. Jacket with light edgewear, minor rubbing, trace soil to rear panel.
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