Books

First collected edition, signed limited issue, number 390 of 500 copies signed by the author, of his enduring masterpiece, a study of love and political intrigue in Alexandria, Egypt before and during the Second World War. The trade issue was released as a hardback in dust jacket. "The four novels emerged in rapid succession from 1957 to 1960 and elicited wildly divergent but generally favourable reviews, praising or attacking Durrell's luxuriant prose, his highly romantic recreation of Alexandria, and his self-proclaimed use of Einstein. Only with the Quartet sales did Durrell begin to live from his writing" (ODNB). For this edition the author took the opportunity "to correct a number of small slips pointed out by readers and critics, and also to add some small passages which were cut out of the original volumes in the MS. stage" (preface). Octavo. Original orange cloth, black label on gilt-lettered spine, hand-print design on front cover in black, bevelled edges, yellow endpapers, top edge gilt. Housed in original black and gold card slipcase. Light rubbing and couple of marks to extremities, internally clean, a near-fine copy. The slipcase a little rubbed with occasional spots of wear, remaining bright and firm. Thomas & Brigmore 33a. Anthony Burgess, 99 Novels, The Best in English Since 1939, 1984.

Mountolive is the third volume of The Alexandria Quartet series by British author Lawrence Durrell. Set in pre-World War II Alexandria, Egypt, Mountolive is part of a sequence of novels that tell a complex story of passion, politics, and betrayal. The series is celebrated for its rich and intricately woven narrative and exploration of modern love.