The Heart of the Matter -
Graham Greene
1948 - William Heinemann Ltd, London - First Edition
A bright first edition of this classic tale of diamond smuggling and blackmail in a British Colony in West Africa.
‘The Heart of the Matter’ was enormously popular upon release, selling more than 300,000 copies in the UK alone. The novel won the 1948 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction, and was ranked 40th on the Modern Library's list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century, in 1998. In 2005, the book featured in Time Magazine's 'One Hundred Best English-language Novels, 1923 to Present'. As recently as 2012, Greene's ever-popular novel was shortlisted for the 'Best of the James Tait Black' awards, which are given in three categories: Fiction, Biography and Drama, since 1919.
‘To me the idea of willing my own damnation for the love of God is either a very loose poetical expression or a mad blasphemy, for the God who accepted that sacrifice could be neither just nor loveable.’ - Evelyn Waugh on ‘The Heart of the Matter’. First edition - ‘William Heinemann Ltd’ to the title page (book society edition issued at the same time states ‘William Heinemann Ltd & The Book Society Ltd’); ‘First Published 1948’ to verso with no additional printings listed (book society edition states ‘This edition issued on first publication by the book society, ltd., in association with William Heinemann Ltd May 1948’).
References: Wise & Hill, The Works of Graham Greene, A15. Wobbe, Graham Greene - A Bibliography and Guide to Research, A21a. Steinbrunner & Penzler, Encyclopaedia of Mystery & Detection, 176.
Octavo (book size 18.8x12.8cm), pp. [6] 297 [1]. Publisher’s dark blue cloth, spine lettered in silver, top edge tinted red, light brown cream coloured endpapers. Condition: Very good, foxing to edges of text block and first few pages, cloth and boards fine. Ref: 106861 Price: HK$ 2,000
‘The Heart of the Matter’ was enormously popular upon release, selling more than 300,000 copies in the UK alone. The novel won the 1948 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction, and was ranked 40th on the Modern Library's list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century, in 1998. In 2005, the book featured in Time Magazine's 'One Hundred Best English-language Novels, 1923 to Present'. As recently as 2012, Greene's ever-popular novel was shortlisted for the 'Best of the James Tait Black' awards, which are given in three categories: Fiction, Biography and Drama, since 1919.
‘To me the idea of willing my own damnation for the love of God is either a very loose poetical expression or a mad blasphemy, for the God who accepted that sacrifice could be neither just nor loveable.’ - Evelyn Waugh on ‘The Heart of the Matter’. First edition - ‘William Heinemann Ltd’ to the title page (book society edition issued at the same time states ‘William Heinemann Ltd & The Book Society Ltd’); ‘First Published 1948’ to verso with no additional printings listed (book society edition states ‘This edition issued on first publication by the book society, ltd., in association with William Heinemann Ltd May 1948’).
References: Wise & Hill, The Works of Graham Greene, A15. Wobbe, Graham Greene - A Bibliography and Guide to Research, A21a. Steinbrunner & Penzler, Encyclopaedia of Mystery & Detection, 176.
Octavo (book size 18.8x12.8cm), pp. [6] 297 [1]. Publisher’s dark blue cloth, spine lettered in silver, top edge tinted red, light brown cream coloured endpapers. Condition: Very good, foxing to edges of text block and first few pages, cloth and boards fine. Ref: 106861 Price: HK$ 2,000