The Ten Pains Of Death

Gavin Maxwell

Published by Longmans, Green, And Company, London, 1959

About this Item

First Edition ( 'First Published in 1959' ). You can see the covers in the photos. They are very clean. The gilt lettering on the spine is very bright. The corners are in solid shape. There are small creases just above and below the rear cover corners. The edges are in solid shape with just a small nick at the rear bottom one. The middle page edge has some spotting. The spine has a clear forward lean, but the book is quite solidly bound. There are no cracks or spaces to be found between any of the facing pages, and both covers are nicely tight. The pages are exceptionally clean with the exception of a tiny bit of the middle page edge staining peeking over a little bit onto some of the actual pages, obviously very far from the print. I'm not seeing any conspicuous creasing, no placeholder creases. There are no markings and there are no attachments. There is gift inscription on the blank first front end paper. It states: 'We hope you enjoy this as much as we did; the author is an Old Stoic-- before my time, of course, With much love'----and I can't really make out the signed name. There is no other writing to be found anywhere else in the book. There are several two-page sections of photographs. They are all in excellent condition. You can see the dust jacket in the first few photos. The jacket is a 'Second Impression'. It says so at the bottom of the front flap. I've rated its condition Very Good Minus taking into account age. There is small loss at both spine ends, some scuffing as well. There is tiny loss at the corners. The flaps are in solid condition. They have a little bit of crinkling and toning at their top margins. The jacket is NOT price-clipped, not clipped at all. I've always had the jacket in a fitted protective cover. Here is someone's synopsis (you can also read the reviews on the rear cover of the jacket (third photo): Sometimes shocking, often moving, always fascinating, this view of mid-20th century Sicily captures the essence of that colorful and complex land. Gavin Maxwell's interest in the plight of Sicily at that time began when he was gathering material for his book about Giuliano, the famous Sicilian bandit. In "The Ten Pains of Death", he has written an angry and unflinchingly honest book about the terrible toll the indifference of those in power had on the needs and lives of the common people. He tells the tale through the stories of a shepherd, a prostitute, a priest, a nun, a policeman, a school teacher, a returned emigrant, and others. Their lives are haunted by crime (80% of the men in one town had served prison sentences!); by sexuality; by grinding poverty; by the terrifying, all-pervasive Mafia; by the crush of strict Catholicism. The good aspects of Sicilian life are also touched upon: elaborate courtship customs, annual harvest festivals, and the spirited Fiesta-- the high point of the Sicilian year. This book is one of Maxwell's most haunting.'. Seller Inventory # 003913

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Ten Pains Of Death

Publisher: Longmans, Green, And Company, London

Publication Date: 1959

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good Minus

Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good Minus

Edition: 1st Edition