Graham Greene. The Complaisant Lover (First UK Edition, inscribed). William Heinemann, London, 1959.

Price: US$3000.00 + shipping

Description: First UK Edition, preceding all others. INSCRIBED by Graham Greene on the front endpaper: "For Audrey Hobson / from Graham Greene." Jacket spine faintly faded, else Fine in an about Fine dust jacket.

Seller: Royal Books, Inc., ABAA, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A.

Greene, Graham (Paul Scofield). The Complaisant Lover. William Heinemann Ltd, London, 1959.

Price: US$3875.27 + shipping

Condition: Fine

Description: This is an interesting copy as it comes from the private collection of the the actor Paul Scofield. There is an inscription from the author to Scofield, whom he greatly admired, on the front free end paper 'For Paul with affectionate gratitude from Graham, 18.6.59'. Paul Scofield played Clive Root alongside Ralph Richardson in the first production of this play at the Globe Theatre on June 18 1959 directed by John Gielgud. This book was given to Paul by the author in gratitude and the date of the inscription is the first performance. A lovely dramatic association copy. Publisher's original blue cloth binding with title in gilt on spine. In original unclipped dust jacket, price 8s 6d. Dust jacket has some foxing to inside leafs, mark on back cover, spine, top edge and folds are light faded. Binding is fine. Pages bright and clean with minimal foxing to first few and last few pages. This is one of 13 books / plays inscribed to Paul Scofield from their authors and 1 of 18 Greene first editions along with other books from Scofield's private collection that are on sale through this bookseller. Further details and images are available on request.

Seller: Mull Books, Ledbury, United Kingdom

GREENE, Graham.. The Complaisant Lover: A Comedy.. London Heinemann, 1959.

Price: US$3932.50 + shipping

Description: First edition, first impression, inscribed on the front free endpaper by the author; small 8vo; publisher's blue cloth, titles to spine gilt; dust jacket, a single short tear repaired with tissue to verso. greene Author's signed presentation inscription to the front free endpaper, 'For Ragnar & Greta (my collaborator) with love from Graham, Capri: July 1, 1959'. An intriguing and crucial association copy. The Complaisant Lover contains a suicide scene which, as was noted in Sweden at the time of publication, bore remarkable similarities the that of the Swedish journalist and playwright Stig Dagerman. Dagerman had killed himself in 1954 and Greene had subsequently been introduced to his widow Anita, with whom he had an affair. Anita is generally thought to have provided the details and background to the suicide; Anita having been introduced to Greene by Ragnar and Greta. This we believe this to have been the 'collaoration' referred to in Greene's inscription. We tend to agree with the notion that the scandal cost Greene his chance of a Nobel Prize. Certainly why he was never nominated has been a mystery for many years. Ragnar Svanström (1904-1988), Swedish historian and literary director, was the long-time contact of Greene at Norstedts Publishing House in Stockholm. He edited the 'Introduction to Three Novels', published by Norstedts in 1962. The friendship that developed between Greene and Svanström, and his wife Greta spanned many decades. Their correspondence is kept at the Royal Library in Stockholm.

Seller: Shapero Rare Books, London, United Kingdom