THE QUARRY

London, England: Atlantic Books, 2004. First Edition. First Printing.. Hardcover. Fine/Fine Dust Jacket.. London, England: Atlantic Books, 2004. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. First Edition/First Printing. 170 pages. The author's third novel. One of Damon Galgut's finest achievements. The first appearance of the title in the United Kingdom and in its definitive Revised Edition. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions. Published in a small and limited first print run as a hardcover original only in 2004, nine years after the 1995 First Edition, which was issued in South Africa only. As the DJ Cover indicates and the text of the Inside Flap confirms, the publication was prompted by the success of the author's fourth novel, "The Good Doctor", the year before, in 2003. In other words, it might never have seen the light of day in the rest of the English-speaking world were it not for the latter novel's success. The American and Canadian Editions were published a year later, in 2005. The Revised First Edition is now rare. Presents Damon Galgut's "The Quarry". A near-masterpiece. "Brings the power of myth to his tender prose to create a devastating drama" (Publisher's blurb) . If "A Sinless Season" brought William Golding's "Lord of The Flies" to mind, "The Quarry" will inevitably remind readers of the bleak, relentless nihilism of Cormac McCarthy. The allegorical narrative, the dramatic tension, the surprise "twist" ending, and the immaculate prose are pure Galgut. Damon Galgut was born to write, has published eight novels (as of 2021) and a short story collection. This body of work is all the more impressive because by his own admission, Galgut is a slow, painstaking writer, who still writes longhand on notebooks. Until recently, he remained a relatively obscure figure (just as Cormac McCarthy was for a very long time) , known to and admired by mainly British and South African readers and fellow writers, who were fortunate to have discovered his work as it unfolded, developed, and matured over time. All that has now changed for good. We have quite a bit of catching up to do with this literary artist who is, indisputably albeit belatedly, the living definition of writer's writer. The basis of two very fine, gripping film adaptations, in 1998 and 2020. Both films on DVD and Blu-ray formats - the 1998 film is rare - come with this copy. An absolute "must-have" set for Damon Galgut collectors. This copy is very prominently and beautifully signed, placed, dated, and inscribed in blue ink-pen on the title page by the author: "To Mark - May the words speak to you! Damon Galgut Toronto 30 Oct 2008". It is signed directly on the page itself, not on a tipped-in page. The recipient, who is named, obtained the signature in person. It comes with the 1998 and 2020 film adaptations of the novel on DVD and Blu-ray. This title is a contemporary classic. As far as we know, this is the only such signed, placed, dated, and inscribed copy of the First Hardcover Edition/First Printing (British) available online and is in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright. Please note: This is the definitive Revised Edition. Precedes and should NOT be confused with the American and Canadian Editions. A rare signed copy thus. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2003 for "The Good Doctor". Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, yet again, in 2010 for "In A Strange Room". Winner of the Booker Prize, at long last, in 2021 for "The Promise". One of the greatest writers of our time. A fine collectible set. (SEE ALSO OTHER DAMON GALGUT TITLES IN OUR CATALOG). ISBN 1843542935.