GRAY, Alasdair. Lanark. A Life in Four Books. Edinburgh: Canongate. 2001. 8vos. First edition thus; first edition of the work in four books, one of a limited edition of 2000 copies each signed and numbered by Gary to the slipcase top edge. This set unusually also signed to each volume with Gray’s customarily odd wit. Publisher’s burgundy and blue cloth elaborately decorated in gilt to the boards and backstrips, each with dust jackets. Housed in the publisher’s slipcase. The volumes variably signed; ‘Alistair to Anita’ to first three volumes, and ‘Alasdair to Gray’ to fourth volume. The set is number 1565/2000. The books fine, the dust jackets all fine but for small closed tear to the first volume top edge and some mild crimping to others. The slipcase structurally sound, the signed element somewhat faded as is often the case, but a unique example of the limited edition.
Gray’s magnum opus—despite the more recent celebrations of his Poor Things (1992)—whose publication lifted the artist-author to the preeminent modern Scottish novelist. Originally published in 1981, this is in a sense the third hardcover printing; Gray, ever the obsessive controller over his own books, insisted the second printing be endowed with elaborate gilt boards he became famous for. Canongate refused, and a resolution came in the 1985 limited edition each signed by the author. This, published on the twentieth anniversary of the first edition, again flexes tradition, assembling this sprawling novel subtitled ‘a life in four books’ into literally just that. Highly recommended by this cataloguer. Uncommon.
GRAY, Alasdair. Lanark. A Life in Four Books. Edinburgh: Canongate. 2001. 8vos. First edition thus; first edition of the work in four books, one of a limited edition of 2000 copies each signed and numbered by Gary to the slipcase top edge. This set unusually also signed to each volume with Gray’s customarily odd wit. Publisher’s burgundy and blue cloth elaborately decorated in gilt to the boards and backstrips, each with dust jackets. Housed in the publisher’s slipcase. The volumes variably signed; ‘Alistair to Anita’ to first three volumes, and ‘Alasdair to Gray’ to fourth volume. The set is number 1565/2000. The books fine, the dust jackets all fine but for small closed tear to the first volume top edge and some mild crimping to others. The slipcase structurally sound, the signed element somewhat faded as is often the case, but a unique example of the limited edition.
Gray’s magnum opus—despite the more recent celebrations of his Poor Things (1992)—whose publication lifted the artist-author to the preeminent modern Scottish novelist. Originally published in 1981, this is in a sense the third hardcover printing; Gray, ever the obsessive controller over his own books, insisted the second printing be endowed with elaborate gilt boards he became famous for. Canongate refused, and a resolution came in the 1985 limited edition each signed by the author. This, published on the twentieth anniversary of the first edition, again flexes tradition, assembling this sprawling novel subtitled ‘a life in four books’ into literally just that. Highly recommended by this cataloguer. Uncommon.
