Lessing

1957 · réf. C104168 — London: Michael Joseph 1957. First Edition. Hardback. Dust Jacket. Hardcover Hardcover. Good. First Edition. Hardback. Dust Jacket. 8vo. pp 251. Signed presentation copy to Tom Maschler on fep ÔTom with love from Doris Lessing.Õ Original publisher's blue cloth lettered gilt at the sine. Doris Lessing describes a seven-week trip to her home country of Southern Rhodesia now Zimbabwe in March 1956 after an absence of seven years. Provenance: Forum Auctions November 2025 with other books preented to tMaschler. Tom Maschler - a legendary figure in British publishing Cape responsible for championing some of the most important writing of the twentieth century. Known as a brilliant talent-spotter Tom launched the careers of writers as various as Ian McEwan Edna OÕBrien Clive James and Bruce Chatwin. He famously purchased Joseph HellerÕs Catch-22 for £250 and persuaded Desmond Morris then working at London Zoo to write The Naked Ape. In 1967 Tom conceived the idea of the Booker Prize which launched in 1968. An incredible fifteen of his authors have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Tom was also known as an exceptional childrenÕs publisher especially of illustrated books: it was he who introduced Roald Dahl to Quentin Blake. Very good indeed in slightly chipped else near vg d/w. Slight loss at head of spine and slightly chipped at foot of spine No other inscriptions not price-clipped. Michael Joseph, hardcover