Modern Literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1975.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket.
Amis's second novel, more controversial and less immediately celebrated than his debut. It was reissued in 1984 under the title Dark Secrets.
Modern Literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1969.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
Gysin was a painter and composer who collaborated with Beat Generation author William S. Burroughs on many occasions. The Process was his first full-length novel.
Modern Literature
Translated from the Italian by William Weaver
London, Jonathan Cape, 1968.
First UK edition, first impression. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket.
The first English language edition of this work by neorealist author Pasolini, building on the success of his 1955 work Ragazzi di Vita. The novel chronicles the life of Tommaso, a street youth equally comfortable running with Fascists, Communists or plain thieves in the slum suburbs of Rome, who undergoes a transformation after imprisonment.
Weird & Supernatural
London, Jonathan Cape, 1936.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket.
One of Morton's Beachcomber collections published under his own name rather than the pseudonym, gathering the comic whimsies, parodies, spoof news items and surreal sketches featuring his recurring characters.
A play in three acts
London, Jonathan Cape, 1945.
First edition, first impression. Signed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket.
A three-act play treating the last days of Lord Byron; the author's radio version of the same material was produced under the title Death of a Poet.
Modern Literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1976.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket, priced £3.50.
Jeffrey Archer's first novel and the book that launched his career as a bestselling author. Its commercial success established the formula, slick plotting and high-stakes finance, that would dominate his later fiction.
Biography
London, Jonathan Cape, 1931.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
A survey of the historical and political changes in Russia during the first third of the 20th century.
American Literature
and the first forty-nine stories
London, Jonathan Cape, 1939.
First UK edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
Collecting Hemingway's only full-length play, set amid espionage and moral conflict in the Spanish Civil War, alongside nearly all of his short stories published to that date, this volume is central to understanding his influence on 20th-century short fiction.
American Literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1952.
First UK edition, first impression. 8vo. Original pictorial boards. Dust-jacket, priced 7s6d.
A symbolic tale of endurance and dignity, one of Hemingway's late masterpieces and the work that secured his 1954 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Detective Fiction
London, Jonathan Cape, 1934.
First UK edition, first impression. 8vo. Original yellow cloth. Dust-jacket, priced five shillings.
The first UK edition of this classic of US crime literature, widely recognised as an outstanding novel of the 20th century.
Children's Books
London, Jonathan Cape, 1989.
First edition. Signed by Quentin Blake on title-page. Small 4to. Original boards. Dust-jacket.
'The marvellously dastardly Dahl has joined forces with that bounder Blake to plunder a wealth of nursery heritage for the delight of the older reader in this wonderful addition to the literature of the absurd' (dust-jacket blurb).
Children's Books
London, Jonathan Cape, 1982.
First edition, first impression. Signed by the illustrator on the title-page. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket, priced £6.50.
A very good first edition of one of Dahl's best-loved novels; a central title in late 20th-century children's literature. This copy further enhanced by being signed by the illustrator, Sir Quentin Blake.
Children's Books
a collection of the world's best fairy tales from all countries
London, Jonathan Cape, 1929.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7s.6d.
An anthology of fairy tales from many countries, including well-known ones like "Cinderella," "Beauty and the Beast," Hawthorne's "The Miraculous Pitcher," plus several anonymous and less popular tales. Wilson is better known as a novelist and essayist.
Historical Fiction
London, Jonathan Cape, 1923.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7s6d.
An early novel by John Brandane, the pen-name of Scottish physician John MacIntyre, who specialised in fiction and drama rooted in Highland settings and Scottish identity.
Modern Literature
A Study of Modern Writers and Beliefs
London, Jonathan Cape, 1935.
First edition, second impression. Signed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, clipped but with price 8s. 6d. present.
An interesting copy, inscribed by Spender 'To Tony with love from Stephen December 9, 1939'. Presumably this would be to Tony Hyndman, Spender's lover whom he lived with between 1933 & 1936. This inscription was around the time that relationship had ended, with Spender marrying Inez Pearn that month, after an engagement of only three weeks. Hyndman is referred to as 'Jimmy Younger' in Spender's memoir World Within World.
War, Invasion & Spy
London, Jonathan Cape, 1963.
First edition. Small 4to. Original cloth-backed boards. Dust-jacket, priced 30s.
An attractive first edition of Bond-creator Fleming's adventure-charged visit to the world's most exciting, exotic and sinful cities. Includes snapshots of Hong Kong, Tokyo, Honolulu, Las Vegas, New York and Monte Carlo.
Modern Literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1967.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original red boards. Dust-jacket, clipped to inside front flap but with prices present.
Count Boris Slattery's mid-life descent into obsession, nostalgia, alcoholism, sexual fixation on teenage girls and personal crisis in an English seaside town. Farrell's first Cape-published novel, prior to his acclaimed Empire Trilogy.
Modern Literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1938.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 8s6d.
Set in the English Midlands, the novel follows Bruno Shadbolt, who rises from poverty to wealth and influence, centered around the grand estate of Spella Ho.
African literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1961.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 15s.
This debut novel by Ronald Harwood is set in Cape Town and follows George, a Zulu houseboy, who faces exploitation by the white families he serves.
Detective Fiction
London, Jonathan Cape, 1936.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original brown cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7s6d.
The novel follows William "Gilt Kid" Kennedy, a London housebreaker just released from prison. Disillusioned by honest work – "only saps work," he believes – Kennedy is a burglar and a Communist sympathizer who justifies theft as reclaiming surplus value from capitalists. Returning to Soho's seedy underworld, he reconnects with old criminal associates in smoky cafes, dingy pubs, and late-night coffee stalls. Kennedy carouses with prostitutes and petty crooks, eventually joining a daring robbery that forms the novel's centrepiece. The ending is bleak: the Gilt Kid's return to crime proves futile, underscoring the inevitability of his defeat in a society offering him little chance for redemption.
Modern Literature
and Other Stories
London, Jonathan Cape, 1940.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original oatmean cloth lettered in red. Dust-jacket, priced 7s6d.
A collection of fifteen short stories. The title story, 'The Beauty of the Dead,' originally appearing in The Fortnightly Review in December 1939, portrays a man reflecting on the serene beauty of his deceased wife amidst their cherished possessions.
Modern Literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1968.
First edition, first impression. Signed presentation copy from the author. Original purple boards. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
Modern Literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1929.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7s6d.
Modern Literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1970.
First edition, first impression. Inscribed presentation copy from the author with original 'elephant' doodle. 8vo. Original black boards. Dust-jacket, priced £1.25,
Speculative black comedy by poet, novelist & playwright Mitchell, nominated, semi-seriously, as Britain's "Shadow Poet Laureate" in 2002.
Tom Maschler (1933–2020) was a highly influential figure in British publishing, renowned in particular for his tenure as literary director at Jonathan Cape. He was instrumental in shaping modern publishing, discovering and championing some of the most iconic authors of the 20th century, including Ian McEwan, Martin Amis and Salman Rushdie. Maschler was also a key force behind the creation of the Booker Prize, which became one of the most prestigious literary awards globally. Known for his keen editorial eye and risk-taking, he played a pivotal role in establishing literary trends and elevating authors who would go on to define their eras.
Modern Literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1983.
First edition, first impression. Inscribed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket, priced £7.95.
A metaphysical tale set in the Middle Ages, recounting Pilgermann's pilgrimage, filled with surreal encounters, such as speaking animals, anthropomorphic Death as a recurring figure and symbolic visions.
Tom Maschler (1933–2020) was a highly influential figure in British publishing, renowned in particular for his tenure as literary director at Jonathan Cape. He was instrumental in shaping modern publishing, discovering and championing some of the most iconic authors of the 20th century, including Ian McEwan, Martin Amis and Salman Rushdie. Maschler was also a key force behind the creation of the Booker Prize, which became one of the most prestigious literary awards globally. Known for his keen editorial eye and risk-taking, he played a pivotal role in establishing literary trends and elevating authors who would go on to define their eras.
Modern Literature
Stories, a Libretto, Essays and Sketches
London, Jonathan Cape, 1992.
First edition, first impression. Inscribed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket, priced £14.99.
An attractive inscribed first edition of this intriguing collection, including a operatic libretto reimagining 'King Kong'.
Tom Maschler (1933–2020) was a highly influential figure in British publishing, renowned in particular for his tenure as literary director at Jonathan Cape. He was instrumental in shaping modern publishing, discovering and championing some of the most iconic authors of the 20th century, including Ian McEwan, Martin Amis and Salman Rushdie. Maschler was also a key force behind the creation of the Booker Prize, which became one of the most prestigious literary awards globally. Known for his keen editorial eye and risk-taking, he played a pivotal role in establishing literary trends and elevating authors who would go on to define their eras.
Modern Literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1982.
First edition, first impression. Inscribed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket, priced £7.95.
A collection of essays showcasing James's wit and range as a cultural critic.
Tom Maschler (1933–2020) was a highly influential figure in British publishing, renowned in particular for his tenure as literary director at Jonathan Cape. He was instrumental in shaping modern publishing, discovering and championing some of the most iconic authors of the 20th century, including Ian McEwan, Martin Amis and Salman Rushdie. Maschler was also a key force behind the creation of the Booker Prize, which became one of the most prestigious literary awards globally. Known for his keen editorial eye and risk-taking, he played a pivotal role in establishing literary trends and elevating authors who would go on to define their eras.
Modern Literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1987.First edition, first impression. Author's dedication copy, with signed inscripton from the author to front free endpaper and the printed dedication to the publisher Tom Maschler on copyright page. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket, priced £10.95.First edition of James's second novel, published in 1987 by Jonathan Cape, inscribed to his publisher Tom Maschler, who is also named in the printed dedication on the verso of the title-page. The narrative centres on Joel Court, an astronomer who finds himself in personal and professional turmoil.Tom Maschler (1933–2020) was a highly influential figure in British publishing, renowned in particular for his tenure as literary director at Jonathan Cape. He was instrumental in shaping modern publishing, discovering and championing some of the most iconic authors of the 20th century, including Ian McEwan, Martin Amis and Salman Rushdie. Maschler was also a key force behind the creation of the Booker Prize, which became one of the most prestigious literary awards globally. Known for his keen editorial eye and risk-taking, he played a pivotal role in establishing literary trends and elevating authors who would go on to define their eras.
Children's Books
London, Jonathan Cape, 1978.
First edition, first impression. Signed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket, priced £2.95.
A children's novel by Australian writer Keneally, best known for Schindler's Ark (1982). This whimsical story imagines the bushranger Ned Kelly in a fantastical context, with bee characters interwoven...
Tom Maschler (1933–2020) was a highly influential figure in British publishing, renowned in particular for his tenure as literary director at Jonathan Cape. He was instrumental in shaping modern publishing, discovering and championing some of the most iconic authors of the 20th century, including Ian McEwan, Martin Amis and Salman Rushdie. Maschler was also a key force behind the creation of the Booker Prize, which became one of the most prestigious literary awards globally. Known for his keen editorial eye and risk-taking, he played a pivotal role in establishing literary trends and elevating authors who would go on to define their eras.
Modern Literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1989.
First edition, first impression. Inscribed presentation copy from the author to publisher Tom Maschler. 8vo. Original red boards. Dust-jacket, priced £12.95.
A fantasy novel set in the fictional land of Brychmachrye, also the setting for de Haan's earlier work, A Mirror for Princes. The narrative begins with a touring theatre company encountering a mysterious young man named Caryllac, and follows his ambitions and rise to fame.
Tom Maschler (1933–2020) was a highly influential figure in British publishing, renowned in particular for his tenure as literary director at Jonathan Cape. He was instrumental in shaping modern publishing, discovering and championing some of the most iconic authors of the 20th century, including Ian McEwan, Martin Amis and Salman Rushdie. Maschler was also a key force behind the creation of the Booker Prize, which became one of the most prestigious literary awards globally. Known for his keen editorial eye and risk-taking, he played a pivotal role in establishing literary trends and elevating authors who would go on to define their eras.
Modern Literature
A Revised Version
London, Jonathan Cape, 1977.
Revised edition, first impression. Signed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Original black boards lettered in gilt to spine. Dust-jacket.
The revised edition of Fowles' masterpiece, a psychological novel about a young Englishman entangled in the manipulations of a mysterious Greek island recluse. Inscribed from the author.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
London, Jonathan Cape, 1958.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket, priced 15s.
A gripping World War III novel set in Quebec, following an exiled civil servant and a scientist torn between duty and morality amidst love, music, and encounters with nationalism.
Modern Literature
In twenty-two magnificent stories...
London, Jonathan Cape, 1943.
First edition. 8vo. Original yellow cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7s6d.
A modern take on the classic characters from pantomime.
War, Invasion & Spy
London, Jonathan Cape, 1963.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original red boards, stamped in black to upper cover and lettered in gilt to spine. Dust-jacket, priced 16s.
The second "Harry Palmer" spy book by Deighton, featuring drug trafficking, blackmail and neo-Nazism.
Modern Literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1936.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
The third of Nebel's novels, the basis of the American romantic comedy film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Don Ameche and Ann Sothern.
Modern Literature
A Play in Three Acts
London, Jonathan Cape, 1936.
First edition thus. 8vo. Original yellow cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 3s6d.
The only extant play by the great Irish novelist, Exiles is of interest both for its autobiographical content and for formal reasons.
Modern Literature
and six more
London, Jonathan Cape, 1977.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original dark blue boards. Dust-jacket, priced £3.50.
A clever mix of fact and fiction, this volume also includes the tale of a boy who can understand animals, the magical true story of Mildenhall treasure, and Roald Dahl's own account of how he became a writer (with a wealth of tips for aspiring authors). The title tale was made into a film starring Benedict Cumberbatch.
War, Invasion & Spy
London, Jonathan Cape, 1964.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original pictorial boards. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
The third of Deighton's "Harry Palmer" novels, in which the blood-stained legacy of Nazi Germany is revealed in the intricate moves of cold war espionage...
War, Invasion & Spy
London, Jonathan Cape, 1963.
Uncorrected proof copy. 8vo. Original pictorial wrappers with publisher's device.
Uncorrected proof of the second "Harry Palmer" spy books by Deighton, featuring drug trafficking, blackmail and neo-Nazism.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
London, Jonathan Cape, 1982.
First edition, first impression. Signed by the author, 'J.G. Ballard: "El Supremo"', to title-page. 8vo. Original blue boards. Dust-jacket, publisher's price-sticker of £7.95 to inside flap.
Signed first edition of this collection of ten short stories originally written for magazines in the late '70s and early '80s.
...with an introduction by Hilaire Belloc
London, Jonathan Cape, 1930.
'New Edition'. 8vo. Original blue cloth lettered in gilt. Dust-jacket, priced 21s.
Mountaineering in East Africa, accompanied by numerous collotype photographic plates.
London, Jonathan Cape, 1946.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original cloth lettered in gilt. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
A handsome first UK edition of this important anthropological and sociological study of the African-American urban experience in the first half of the 20th century.