MCLUHAN: THE FONTANA MODERN MASTERS SERIES

London, England: Fontana Publishers, 1971. First Edition. First Printing.. Softcover. Fine/No Dust Jacket, As Issued.. London, England: Fontana Publishers, 1971. Softcover. Fine/None, As Issued. First Edition/First Printing. 145 pages. Book-length account on subject. All in all, the single best book of its kind on Marshall McLuhan and the phenomenon of mass communication ever written in the 20th century. The true First Edition. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent printings, of which there are many. Published in a small and limited first print run by Fontana Publishers as a small-paperback softcover original only and as part of the now-legendary Fontana Modern Masters Series. The latter was inaugurated and vigorously edited throughout its existence by Frank Kermode. There is no ISBN. The First Edition is now rare. Without DJ, as issued. Presents, in its First Edition format, Jonathan Miller's "McLuhan". Acknowledged, right off the bat, as the most ground-breaking and important thinker of modern communications theory. Then, Jonathan Miller re-assesses - fairly, reasonably, and persuasively - the actual significance of McLuhan's work once one allows the glittering dust to settle. Britain's greatest Renaissance Man in the 20th century and a committed generalist, Jonathan Miller brings to his subject, still controversial and salient in our time, the perspective and context that would elude the communications experts or pundits who have written whole shelves of books on McLuhan - yet miss his whole point. Miller's argument is fresh, erudite, and illuminating. No student or scholar of the "tradition" (Miller's provocative word) underpinning modern communication techniques could afford to miss his book. An absolute "must-have" title for Jonathan Miller and Marshall McLuhan collectors. This copy is very prominently and beautifully signed, dated (shortly after publication), and inscribed in black ink-pen on the half-title page by the author: "With best wishes from Jonathan Miller, Feb 20th 1971". It is signed directly on the page itself, not on a tipped-in page. There is no recipient named. This title is a late-modern classic. As far as we know, this is the only such signed, post-publication dated, and inscribed copy of the First Edition/First Printing available online and despite its imperfection (slight browning of page edges because of cheaply-sourced paper used, unavoidably so for a paperback) is still in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright. It is the single most beautiful signature by Jonathan Miller we have ever seen. Please note: Precedes and should NOT be confused with all other subsequent printings. A rare signed copy thus. Two of the greatest writer/thinkers of the 20th century and our time. A fine collectible copy. (SEE ALSO OTHER JONATHAN MILLER AND FRANK KERMODE TITLES IN OUR CATALOG).