London: Hutchinson, 1996

8vo, pp. 389. Original black boards, lettered in gilt to spine. Black endpapers. Illustrated dust jacket, author's photographic portrait to rear panel. Two patches of discolouration to front panel and a tiny one to spine (affecting 'O' of 'HISTORY'), a very good copy in a very good dust jacket with a little light wear to top edge and a single small closed chip to head of spine.

First edition, INSCRIBED BY FRY TO HIS PUBLISHER AT HUTCHINSON, SUE FREESTONE: 'To Sue -- my angel, my inspiration, my radiant darling -- with love Stephen Fry'.

Sue Freestone was publishing director at Heinemann, Hutchinson and Quercus over the course a distinguished career, and guided the early -- and then mature -- careers of many authors who became best sellers. As well as Fry, her list included Douglas Adams, Robert Harris and Sebastian Faulks, and she also saw into print books by political figures, among them Alastair Campbell, Tony Benn and Bill Clinton. Freestone is thanked by Fry for her help on the book's acknowledgements page.