The Giant, O'Brien.

UK,small 8vo HB+glassine dw/dj,1st edn.[Complete number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2.] FINE+/FINE-. No owner inscrptn but price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp,clean,matt,wrap -around opaque glassine dw/dj with capitalised,glossy, black-lettered author name and glossy,calligraphic copperplate black-lettered title to front of dw/dj; spine/ backstrip with similarly coloured+lettered author+title as front,and publisher's black illustrated colophon to foot of same,rear panel plain,undecorated and without text. Negligible shelf-wear,bumping,creasing to edges and corner tips - but no nicks,tears or splits present.A pair of diagonal creases to top corner of front,inner flap of dw/dj, the 2nd crease leaving a faint crease impression to concomitant area of front's top edge and a pair of vertical creases to spine/backstrip - almost the length of same. Top edges lightly toned with a single,tiny blemish towards the fore-edge but still clean without foxing/spotting,fore-edges bright,crisp,clean without blemish or foxing/ spotting; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound - pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips,appears unread other than my own collation. Publisher's bright,crisp,unblemished,sharp-cornered, original burgundy cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked gilt palm down,spread right hand outline illustration with a pair of angled cossed dissecting lines and gilt-lettered writing and a gilt numbered measuring scale to front board's fore-edge; bright,crisp,blocked gilt lettered spine/ backstrip,rear board with a similar,but left handed,gilt blocked illustration as the the front's,a b/w striped headband and immaculate plain pale slate grey endpapers - rear pastedown with pasted security tag. UK,small 8vo HB +dw/dj,1st edn,1-210pp [paginated] includes 12 chapters and a Note; plus [unpaginated] half-title with author's other titles to reverse,a title page,a dedication [to Lesley Glaister - see my book IDs' rja972, rja33309 and rja402911 for UK,HB+dw/dj,1st edns.], an epigram [George Macbeth, 'The Cleaver Garden'] the latter two pages both with a blank reverse,and to the rear,4pp blanks. Want more Hilary MANTEL titles? Please search my MODERN FIRSTS2 and SIGNED catalogues for similar or other UK,HB+ dw/dj,1st edn titles. Visually the exterior appearance is still more than acceptable,and particularly internally,the book is in an exceptional condition/state of preservation and presentation for a book of its 25-year-old age and nature, i.e. with an ephemeral glassine dw/dj. It is only the exterior faults that prevents a slightly higher overall grading.Despite that,it really is still an exemplary example for its cleanliness,brightness and lack of other detracting faults. Orange Prize shortlisted novel,by the bestselling British author,who went on to win the Booker Prize twice,with her epic tudor novels 'Wolf Hall' and 'Bring Up The Bodies'. 'The Giant O'Brien' is based on the true story of Charles O'Brien,an 18th Century Irish man with an extraordinary physique,and John Hunter,the famous anatomist who resolved to study him.They seemed a natural pairing. Except that Hunter prefered his specimens to not be alive. CHARLES O'BRIEN,bard and giant.The cynical are moved by his flights of romance,the craven stirred by his tales of epic deeds.But what of his own story as he is led from Ireland to seek his fortune beyond the sea in England? The Surprising Irish Giant may be the sensation of the season,but nly his compatriots seem to attend to his mythic powers of invention. A motley court surronds him: slow-witted Jankin; the thrusting Claffey brothers; sharp-tongued Bride Claskey the procuress.None so low as Bitch Mary and none so opportunistic as impresario Joe Vance,yet London shall its mark on them all. Just bodies.But even dead,London shall have them.John Hunter,celebrated surgeon and anatomist,buys dead bodies from the gallows and babies' corpses by the inch. Where is a man to hide his bones when he is yet alive? 'The Giant,O'Brien' is an unforgettable novel; lyrical, shocking and spliced by black comedy. Please contact seller,because of the lighter weight and item's value,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence, then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **