From the personal library of Sir Michael H. Caine, co-founder of the Booker Prize.

LIVELY, Penelope ~ The Road to Lichfield. A Novel. Signed by the author.

FIRST UK PRINTING. Heinemann, London: 1977.

8vo., dark blue publisher's boards, lettered and lined in gilt to spine; in the publisher's printed dustwrapper featuring a photograph by Graham Miller (unclipped, £3.90 net); THE BOOK near-fine, pages a touch toned, with very light spotting to the outer edges of the text block; THE WRAPPER very good, with some minor marking and scratching; one small nick to the front panel; both flaps lightly spotted. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. First UK edition of this Booker shortlisted novel. This copy neatly signed by the author to the title page, and formerly in the possession of Sir Michael H. Caine (with his posthumous library sticker to the front paste-down). Caine was head of Booker Bros, and his philanthropic activities included, amongst many other things, the formation of the Man Booker Prize, the creation of the Caine prize, and the Russian Booker Prize. Lively's first book for adults, which takes as its protagonist Anne Linton, who, as she travels to see her dying father, is forced to confront newly-discovered aspects of his past. The events surrounding lead her to newly-discovered aspects of herself too, as she reconnects with her brother, and begins an affair with one of her father's fishing friends. An intricate book concerning interwoven relationships and compatibility, 'The Road to Lichfield' was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in the year of publication. Lively was shortlisted again in 1984 with 'According to Mark', before finally winning the prize in 1987 with 'Moon Tiger'. Both this, and her Booker Prize winner, concern the final moments in a person's life, with the latter involving a woman who, on her deathbed, reflects back on the events of her life, and how she will be remembered for them. Scarce signed as a first printing. An interesting association copy.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Near Fine
JACKET: Very Good