London: Hutchinson, 1997

8vo, pp. 343. Original red boards, lettered in gilt to spine. Red endpapers. Illustrated dust jacket, author's photographic portrait to front panel and rear flap. Tope edge a little marked, but a near fine copy in a very good dust jacket with water staining to lower edge (with very faint reproduction to front board).

First edition, INSCRIBED BY FRY TO HIS PUBLISHER SUE FREESTONE: 'For darling Sue, who knows without whom..... Much 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 appears in the acknowledgements page of the book: 'Sue Freestone at Hutchinson's was angelically patient as she awaited the final, overdue outchug from my printer....'.

An excellent association.