London: Heinemann, 1966

8vo, pp. 284. Original green boards, lettered in gilt on spine. A fine copy in a near fine dustwrapper, a little browned at folds and with very light edgewear, and with one horizontal scratch to spine.

First edition, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO THE NOVELIST AND CRITIC DEREK MONSEY: 'Derek with love from James.' WITH A NOTE TO MONSEY FROM THE AUTHOR LAID IN: 'Sorry, this isn't a book you approve of -- but it's all I have in hardback -- quite handsome without the dustcover? I though you might be tickled by my serious academic manner in this v. learned [illegible, and possibly German]. Read all about Xanadu (where Biddy ?Oveish lives). But the 'person from Porlock' remains an unsung hero -- or villain -- waiting for a novelist to write him up. James'.