London: Heinemann, 1991

8vo, pp. 277. Original black boards, lettered in gilt to spine. Illustrated dust jacket, author's photographic portrait to rear panel. Corners just a little bumped, but a near fine copy in a very good dust jacket with a small (1cm) closed tear to top of rear flap, and just a little light edgewear.

First edition, third impression. FRY'S FIRST NOVEL, EFFUSIVELY INSCRIBED TO SUE FREESTONE, HIS PUBLISHER AT HEINEMANN: 'Sue, Without whom... You're a total darling -- I cannot tell you how thin this book would have been without you -- from your adoring friend Stephen Fry XX 16th September 1991'.

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.

Fry pays tribute to Freestone's contribution to The Liar in the book's acknowledgements: 'There is no possibility this book could ever have been written without the violent threats and pitiless blackmail of Sue Freestone of William Heinemann...'.