Dawkins's controversial bestseller

Dawkins, Richard ~ The God Delusion : Signed By The Author

FIRST UK PRINTING : Bantam Press, London : 2006

The First UK Printing published by the Bantam Press, London in 2006. 8vo., black boards lettered in gilt to spine with publisher's device to foot; red endpapers; in the unclipped dustwrapper featuring an illustration by Norma Blair, and a black and white photograph of the author to the rear flap. The BOOK is in Very Good++ or better condition. Slight lean present with mild pushing at the spine ends. One small bump to the upper edge of the rear board, and a couple of small light marks. Some usually encountered toning to the text-block due to the quality of the paper stock used. The WRAPPER is complete and is in near Fine condition. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. Signed (without dedication) by the author to the title page, with a copy the ticket for the signing event loosely inserted. Richard Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist and infamous athiest who rose to fame with his 1976 work 'The Selfish Gene', a book which popularised a gene-centered view of evolution. In 1986 he published 'The Blind Watchmaker', which argued against the idea of a supernatural creator, but it is perhaps the present work, 'The God Delusion' for which he is best known today. In it, Dawkins presents several arguments against the existence of God, prescribing that faith is simply a delusion or "a fixed false belief". Dawkins was brought up as a Christian, but quickly grew sceptical of the church, and through his education and understanding of scientific and evolutionary processes he identified himself as an athiest. His vehement opposition to religion has perhaps unsurprisingly led to controversy, with some labelling him as a fundamentalist, and others praising his education-based approach which proposes 'free-thinking schools' and happy, balanced lives for non-believers. The book is dedicated to Douglas Adams, whom Dawkins famously quotes: "Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?" Increasingly scarce as a signed title.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Very Good++
JACKET: Near Fine