London: Secker & Warburg, 1982

8vo, pp. 218. Original brown boards, lettered in gilt to spine. Illustrated dust jacket, author's photographic portrait to rear flap. Unobtrusive starting to binding at title page, otherwise a fine copy in a fine dust jacket.

First edition of the author's first novel, SIGNED BY BENTLEY.

Named one of the Best Young British Novelists by Granta magazine in 1983, Ursula Bentley then faded from view. Being published at all seems to have been a quirk of fate: 'I got out the Artists' and Writers' Yearbook and I started with 'A', which was, I think, the Alison Press and I sent [the novel] to them. They happened to be downstairs from Secker & Warburg, and they sent it upstairs and they took it. It was deceptively painless.' Although Bentley published three other novels, this, her first, remains her high spot.

A near fine copy, and scarce signed.