AN EXPENSIVE PLACE TO DIE [1/1]

Len Deighton

Published by Jonathan Cape, London, 1967

About this Item

First impression of the true first edition of Len Deighton's fifth novel. Without the 'Top Secret' transit docket which would have been loosely inserted, but is often missing. Jacket design by Raymond Hawkey. ***Near fine in black cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. Boards clean and unmarked. A couple of light indentations on the back board. Head and tail of spine slightly rubbed. Corners sharp. Black and white sixties-style decorative front and rear endpapers and pastedowns. Internally near fine. No inscriptions. No foxing. Pages bright. Spine tight. ***In a very good wraparound colour-illustrated dustwrapper, that has not been price-clipped, showing the original publisher's price of 21s net. Edges of dustwrapper slightly creased, nicked and rubbed. There is a triangular chip to the top of the front panel of the dustwrapper. Very small loss, creasing and rubbing to the head and tail of the spine and corner tips of the dustwrapper. Slight indentations to the back panel of the dustwrapper. Spine of dustwrapper just very slightly faded - less than is usually found with this title. Rear and front panels of dustwrapper bright. ***254 pages. 194 mm x 134 mm. ***'A middle-aged English spy is sent to deliver a file of information on nuclear fall-out to the doctor, and finds himself involved in the most macabre operation of his career among the boulevards and back streets of Paris. In the twilight of blackmail and hidden motive, friend and enemy become indistinguishable: Maria, the divorcee with the E-type; Loiseau, a chief inspector in the Surete; Jean-Paul, the tanned Adonis destined for disaster; and Byrd, the British naval officer turned painter. ***In An Expensive Place to Die, Deighton never relaxes his stranglehold of suspense, and loyalties remain undisclosed until the final pages. Yet he has moved far beyond the limits of the pure spy-thriller to explore the frontiers of human confrontation, where ideological warfare is germinated and sustained by the failure of one man to communicate with another.' (Quote from inside front of dustwrapper blurb). ***First impression of the true first edition, in its original 1960s wraparound illustrated dustwrapper in bright condition. The fifth novel in the Harry Palmer series. ***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. Seller Inventory # 7556

Bibliographic Details

Title: AN EXPENSIVE PLACE TO DIE [1/1]

Publisher: Jonathan Cape, London

Publication Date: 1967

Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Raymond Hawkey [Jacket design]

Condition: Near Fine

Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good

Edition: First Edition