A. S. Byatt — Babel Tower

London, Chatto & Windus, 1996. First edition. Cloth. A fine signed first edition of this wonderful novel by A. S. Byatt, a superb copy of this novel which is generally considered to be one of the best. A first edition, first impression of this work.Signed by the author to the title page.In the original unclipped dustwrapper.An intellectually demanding novel by A. S. Byatt, discussing the private and public obsession of Britain in the 1960s. The novel primarily focuses on two law cases; a divorce case, and the prosecution of an 'obscene' book.From the library at Julians Park, Hertfordshire, once the library of Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie. After being widowed at 25, Audrey married the fabulously wealthy American department store heir, Marshall Field III, later divorcing him and marrying the Honorable Peter Pleydell-Bouverie. In 1940 she bought Julians Park and redesigned the interior. Her library was impressive, with many examples of her own bookbinding.Audrey was an extravagant socialite and renowned beauty, the illegitimate granddaughter of King Edward VII (though she was also rumoured to be his daughter, or the lover of King Edward VIII), featured in the 'Book of Beauty' by Cecil Beaton. She had many high profile friends, such as Winston Churchill, Coco Chanel, Fred Astaire, and Nancy Mitford, a sparkling hostess of the Edwardian period, her hedonistic antics bringing her into the Bright Young Things. In the original publisher's cloth binding, in the original unclipped dustwrapper. Externally, fine. Dustwrapper is fine. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean. A little edge wear from pages 565 to 572. Fine . Ill.: None. Fine/Fine.