The 1994 Booker Prize Winning Novel

Kelman, James ~ How Late it Was, How Late : Signed by the Author

Secker & Warburg, London : 1994

The First UK printing published by Secker & Warburg, London in 1994. 8vo., black publisher's boards, backstrip lettered in gilt; housed in the original unclipped pictorial wrapper (£14.99) by Colum Leith; with a black and white photograph of the author to the lower panel by Douglas Robertson; black endpapers; THE BOOK near Fine, lightly bumped to the upper corners; light toning to the page edges due to the quality of the paper stock used ; The WRAPPER near Fine and is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. This copy has been signed (without dedication) by the author to the title page. Complete with a 1994 Booker Prize Shortlist Bookmark loosely inserted. Kelman's 1994 Booker Prize winning book is set in Glasgow, and follows an ex-convict, Sammy, as he wakes from a two-day binge and attempts to retrace his movements, which include beatings, blindness, nameless crimes and the disappearance of his girlfriend. Written in a stream-of-consciousness style in an uncensored Scottish dialect, the novel is a masterpiece of irony and black humour, and certainly controversial. While many praised the book for its bold and unapologetic style, one Booker Prize judge threatened to resign, calling the book 'deeply inaccessible' a 'disgrace' and 'frankly...crap'. The Times also referred to it as an act of "literary vandalism". In his acceptance speech, Kelman responded directly to the comments, stating that "A fine line can exist between elitism and racism...on matters concerning language and culture, the distinction can sometimes cease to exist altogether." He was the first Scottish writer to win the award. Scarce with such attributes.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Near Fine
JACKET: Near Fine