Retreat to Innocence [inscribed]

Doris Lessing 'The Youth'

Published by London Michael Joseph 1956, 1956

About this Item

Inscribed second impression of a novel almost never found signed because it was repudiated on political grounds by its Nobel Prize winning author. In dark ink on the first free endpaper is written: 'X/ To the Youth/ Doris Lessing'. Who is the youth and what was his relationship with Lessing? Answers came there none. The book is near fine in black cloth, a second impression from two months after the first. The jacket is not price-clipped, bright with just a little rubbing to top and tail of the spine and browning to the lower printed panel. Set in austere post-war London this novel, a much better effort is claimed by its detractors, tells the story of an affair between Julia and a Czech emigre communist, Jan Brod. Lessing later rejected the novel and refused to have it reprinted because she had chosen to end the novel with Brod's loyal return to communist Eastern Europe which she came to judge as the wrong call in the light of the invasion of Hungary and her own disenchantment with Marxism. Near Fine Please contact Christian White Rare Books Ltd for more information or images of this item. Seller Inventory # 6536

Bibliographic Details

Title: Retreat to Innocence [inscribed]

Publisher: London Michael Joseph 1956

Publication Date: 1956

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Near Fine

Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included

Edition: 1st Edition