THE FIRST TO AWAKEN

First edition. Publisher's blue and red cloth with silver gilt titles and illustration to the spine and upper board. Blue top stain. Black and white pen illustrations by Richard M. Bennett to the front and rear endpapers and nestled within the text. A better than very good copy, the binding square and tight. The contents, with a previous owner's bookplate to the front free endpaper, are otherwise clean and bright throughout.

A utopian novel in which the protagonist wakes in the year 2040 after 100 years of suspended animation to find himself in a docile, socialist society. Granville Hicks was originally a supporter of communism and a member of the communist party, but by 1939 had become extremely critical of communism and instead sought out a more left-wing, socialist political ideology. Known largely for his academic and non-fiction writing, this was his first work of fiction. Richard Bennet, as well as providing illustrations, contributed ideas throughout the creation of the novel. (Bleiler). Provenance: from the library of Martin Stone.