The Cement Garden [Signed]

London: Jonathan Cape, 1978. First Edition. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. First Impression of McEwan's first novel (preceded by two short story collections: First Love, Last Rites and In Between the Sheets). 8vo: 138pp. Publisher's forest green cloth, spine lettered in gilt, grey end papers, illustrated dust jacket priced £3.50. Signed by the author without inscription on the title page. A superlative copy (apparently unread), virtually pristine. Filmed by Andrew Birkin in 1993, with Charlotte Gainsbourg and Andrew Robertson. The story "concerns a family of abandoned children coming to terms with life without their parents. It is about their simultaneous growth into adults and regression as children . . . [and] brings to mind many other novels concerned with children isolated from adults, most notably The Lord of the Flies. But where Golding's children run wild, and the reader is reminded of how the adult world provides checks on their natural aggression, McEwan's grow closer, and the reader is reminded of how the adult world provides checks on their natural sexuality." (Literary Encyclopedia) N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, with dust jackets carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).