GREY BIRDS

First UK edition, first printing. Publisher's original green cloth with gilt titles to the spine, in the original illustrated dustwrapper. A very good copy, the binding square and firm, with some bumping to the corners and spine tips, the cloth and titles bright and fresh. The contents, with some minor offsetting to the front endpaper, very occasional spotting, and a previous owner's inscription in blue ink to the front endpaper, are otherwise clean throughout. With a four page publisher's catalogue to the rear. The upper edge of the text block is somewhat dusty, with a blue date stamp to the lower edge. Complete with the rubbed and nicked dustwrapper, that has several short closed tears to the upper edge, with loss to the lower spine tip and to the corners of the front and rear panels. Light foxing to the inside and dark toning to the flap edges. Not price clipped (original 7s 6d. net pricing), with the publisher's later price label over the top.

Van Schendel's twenty eighth novel, the first of a trilogy which is followed by A Dutch Drama and The Rich Man. Originally published in the author's native Holland. The novel explores 'the problem of undeserved suffering', narrating the slow mental deterioration of a man who becomes blind following an accident.