Adrift in Soho : Inscribed by the Author in the Year of Publication
Published by Victor Gollancz Ltd, London, 1961
- First Edition
- Hardcover
- Used
Seller: Ashton Rare Books ABA : PBFA : ILAB, Market Harborough, United KingdomAshton Rare Books ABA : PBFA : ILAB
AbeBooks seller since March 13, 2013
Condition: Used - Very good
£ 450.00
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
The First UK Printing published by Victor Gollancz Ltd, London in 1961. 8vo., red publisher's boards lettered in gilt to backstrip; together in the iconic Gollancz wrapper in bright yellow, lettered and bordered in pink and black (16/- net); The BOOK is in Very Good++ or better condition with mild offsetting to the end-papers; slight toning to the outer edges of text block, with a couple of small red marks to the lower edge; slightly sunning to the edges and spine tips; Light pushing to the spine ends. The WRAPPER is in Very Good++ or better condition. Some light age related markings more-so to the lower panel, which also has a couple of small light splash marks; ever-so-slightly nicked at head of spine and tips of folds. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. Inscribed by the authorn to the front free endpaper, in the year of publication: "For Ivan + Kathleen, warm regards, Colin, Sept 61" Wilson's fifth book, and second novel, which follows a provincial lad (Harry Preston) in the mid 1950s, from his service with the RAF to Soho and Notting Hill. Seeking life and adventure in the capital, he becomes involved with the members of London's beatnik generation which include the real-life 'King of the Bohemians' Ironfoot Jack and a whole host of other characters which include artists, writers, actors, con men and rich benefactors. Many of these were based on real-life people living in London at the time of publication (Jack was Professor J. R. Neave, who wore a surgical boot with an iron extension below the sole) but at the advice of his publisher, Wilson went on to change all of the names substantially in order to avoid any potential legal battles. Wilson had himself been conscripted into the air force in 1949, but clashed with the authoritarian nature of his superiors, and in order to be dismissed he feigned homosexuality and spent the next few years travelling around Europe, taking up a series of menial jobs. During his time in London, he spent some time sleeping rough in order to save money, and first conceived of the idea for Adrift in Soho as a collaboration between himself and his friend Charles Russell, a bohemian and uncredited actor who had sent Wilson a copy of a novel he was writing. "As soon as I read it I saw that it was unpublishable in its present form", Wilson later wrote in his autobiography, "But the fragment fascinated me.For about a week I tried to rewrite it as a novel, then suddenly realised that I could not write the book from behind Charles s eyes, so to speak; I had to put myself into it." Russell would receive £100 and a percentage of ongoing royalties for his part in the publication. As Nicolas Tredell would later write in 'The Novels of Colin Wilson' (1982): "Adrift in Soho, for all its lightness, manages to be many things. A Bildungsroman; a picaresque tale; a documentary; a period piece; a fairy story; an investigation of freedom.It also teaches a lesson relevant to Wilson s future development as a novelist: that an apparently light-weight form could deal with serious themes." Rare in such collectible condition with such attributes. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.…
Seller Inventory # ABE-1734794213178
Bibliographic details
- Title
- Adrift in Soho : Inscribed by the Author in the Year of Publication
- Author
- Wilson, Colin
- Publisher
- Victor Gollancz Ltd, London
- Publication year
- 1961
- Condition
- Very Good
- Dust jacket
- Very Good
- Signed
- Inscribed by Author(s)
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Seller catalogs
- Fiction
Ashton Rare Books ABA : PBFA : ILAB
Market Harborough, United Kingdom
Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
| Item | 14 to 45 business days | 5 to 10 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 25.00 | £ 30.00 |
Payment methods
- Bank Wire Transfer
- Direct Debit
- Paypal
Store description
I am an established business centered in the city of Leicester. The business has been operating online with over ten years of collecting experience on a range of genres, specialising in modern first edition fiction , Booker titles and iconic novels. All items are fully described and if any discrepency is noted in our description on its arrival to the customer, a full refund will be made. Items over £250 may be paid for in multiple installments - however, all books remain the property of Ashton Rare Books until the full balance has been paid.…
Specialty
Iconic Titles, Illustrated Books, Plays, Philip Pullman, Booker Prize Titles, Fiction, Poetry, Cookery, Children's FictionAssociation member
Seller's business information
Ashton Rare Books ABA : PBFA : ILAB
United Kingdom
Terms of sale
We guarantee the condition of every book as it's described on the Abebooks web sites. If
you're dissatisfied with your purchase (Incorrect Book/Not as Described/Damaged) or if the
order hasn't arrived, you're eligible for a refund within 30 days of the estimated delivery
date. If you've changed your mind about a book that you've ordered, please use the Ask
bookseller a question link to contact us and we will respond within 2 business days.
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Ashton Rare Books ABA : PBFA : ILAB, Market Harborough, United Kingdom, +44 7958570305, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Orders usually ship within 2 business days. Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required. Orders through our website carry free worldwide delivery