London: Jonathan Cape,, 1983. A beautifully bound copy First edition, first impression. Winner of the Whitbread Award for Children's Novel in 1983, the book was adapted into a stage play and a two-part radio dramatization for the BBC, a 1990 movie directed by Nicolas Roeg which starred Anjelica Huston and Rowan Atkinson, and an opera by Marcus Paus and Ole Paus. Octavo (222 x 149 mm). Finely bound by the Chelsea Bindery in bright blue morocco, titles to spine and front board onlaid in pale blue morocco and blocked in black, pictorial onlay wrapped around front and back board after the original dust jacket, twin rule to turn-ins in black, plain blue endpapers, gilt edges. Housed in a bright blue flat-back cloth box. With black and white illustrations. A fine copy.