London: Hutchinson, 2000

8vo, pp. 371. Original blue boards, lettered in gilt to spine. Dark blue endpapers. Illustrated dust jacket. A fine copy in a fine dust jacket.

First edition, INSCRIBED BY FRY TO HIS PUBLISHER SUE FREESTONE: 'With love & thanks & love & thanks & apologies & love & thanks As always -- love Stephen (Fry) X 28th July 2000'.

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.

A fine copy, with an association to match.