Duffy

London: Jonathan Cape, 1980 . First edition. Cloth. Fine/Near Fine. 8.5" by 5.5". None. The very scarce first edition of Julian Barnes' detective fiction novel, 'Duffy', in which a bisexual ex-police officer explores the seedy underbelly of Soho The first edition, first impression of this very scarce novel from 'Dan Kavanagh', the pseudonym of Booker Prize winning English novelist Julian Barnes. In the publisher's original dust wrapper, price clipped.Published in the same year as 'Metroland', Barnes' debut novel, which was published under his own name. Under the name Kavanagh however, Barnes allows himself a different literary personality, allowing himself to indulge in 'fantasies of violence', which he would not commit to paper under his own name.The first of a four volume series of novels featuring titular character Duffy, a bisexual private detective and ex-policeman with a 'phobia of ticking watches and a penchant for Tupperware'.Reviewed by Martin Amis as 'exciting, funny and refreshingly nasty'.An unusual, and very scarce work of Detective Fiction. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with price clipped dust wrapper. Externally, fine. Dust wrapper in excellent condition, with a touch of edge wear to back strip head. Small area of residue from price sticker to front flyleaf. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Fine