9780713905458 - Augustus by Williams, John (4 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Included. 1st Edition. 1st edition 1st printing hardback in price clipped dustjacket. Book in VG+ condition with neat gift inscription from 1973 on pre title page. Jacket with a bit of wear and small area of loss top right front. Not a book club edition, ex library or a remainder. I am happy to supply scans.

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. Sheila Gill [Jacket design] (illustrator). First UK Edition. First impression of the first UK edition, published in 1973. Originally published the preceding year in the USA by Viking, New York. Dustwrapper designed by Sheila Gill. With illustrated endpapers showing a Map of the Roman Empire at the Death of Augustus (A.D. 14). ***Near fine in brown cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The gilt is still beautifully bright, having been protected by the dustwrapper. Head and tail of spine slightly creased. Corners sharp. No reading creases to the spine. Boards clean and unmarked. Page block edges clean without any foxing. Internally also near fine with no inscriptions. No tears. A few top corners slightly creased. Spine tight. ***In a very good dustwrapper that has been price-clipped. The dustwrapper is complete, with no chips. Some edge wear and creasing, mainly to the top and bottom of the spine. There is a small closed tear to the bottom of the spine. The dustwrapper feels slightly slack around the book. [please see scans] ***230 mm x145 mm. 305 pages. ***'John Edward Williams (August 29, 1922 - March 3, 1994) was an American author, editor and professor. He was best known for his novels "Butcher's Crossing" (1960), "Stoner" (1965), and "Augustus" (1972), which won a U.S. National Book Award. "Augustus" is an epistolary, historical fiction first published in th USA by Viking Press in 1972. It tells the story of Augustus, emperor of Rome, from his youth through old age. The book is divided into two parts, the beginning chronicling his rise to power, the latter describing his rule thereafter, and the familial problems faced choosing a successor. Williams and "Augustus" shared the 1973 U.S. National Book Award for Fiction with John Barth and "Chimera", the first time the award was split, and the only one of Williams's four novels to receive significant acclaim within his lifetime. "Augustus" was the last work Williams published before his death in 1994. Though it garnered little public recognition while Williams was alive, the critical reception of the work was generally positive. "Augustus" is different from Williams's other works in that it is his only piece in which the main character is not named William. In addition, it is his first novel that takes place outside of the United States. After falling out of print the novel was re-issued in 2014 by NYRB Classics as part of their revival of William's work.' [Wiki] ***'On the death of his great-uncle Julius Caesar, a shy scholarly youth of nineteen suddenly found himself heir to the vast power his great-uncle had wielded as master of the Roman world. Octavian, later to be known as Augustus Caesar (63 BC - 14 AD), the first Roman Emperor, was to rule that world and rule it astonishingly well, given the odds and intrigues against him. To establish his base of power, he was obliged to put down, by a subtle combination of force and guile, the challenges of such men as Cicero, Brutus, Cassius, and finally Mark Antony. Cast in the form of letters, memoranda, dispatches, John Williams's biographical novel illuminates not only the character of Augustus himself but the Empire over which he presided. We see Augustus as his peers and family - perhaps most important, his scandalous daughter Julia - saw him. And finally we see this rather withdrawn man as he saw himself. Mr Williams's research has been impeccable, but it is the fictional mosaic that he has made of that research which brings "Augustus" so vividly to life.' [Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper] ***First impression of the first UK edition, which is very hard to find now. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.

Hardcover. Condition: new. New.

Hardcover. Condition: new. New Copy. Customer Service Guaranteed.