DUNN, Nell ~ Talking to Women. Signed by the author in the year of publication.

FIRST EDITION. MacGibbon & Kee, London: 1965

8vo., blue publisher’s boards, backstrip in gilt with publisher’s device to foot; unclipped photographic dustwrapper by Tina Tranter (21s net); numerous black and white photographs of the women throughout; THE BOOK a very good copy, mild pushing to spine ends and some marginal toning, creasing and scratches to the edges of the text block; the good to very good WRAPPER with some creases, rubbing and darkening along folds, with a little loss of colour; lower panel with some shelf darkening;’ minor nicks and chips to ends of folds and spine; most so to head of spine, with a larger 2cm chip resulting in some loss of title lettering, and leading to a closed tear. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. First edition, SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR in the year of publication to the title page. One of Dunn’s most timeless works, in which she speaks to a series of nine women on the place of women in post-war society. Among the examples are the writers Ann Quin and Edna O’Brien (who describes the time she inadvertently stole a brown georgette scarf and the lesson she took from it: 'Morality is not the same thing as abstinence’), as well as everyday women, painters, actresses and working mothers. The work had a powerful impact upon publication, most so for its frank and open topics which included men, marriage, sexuality, children, emancipation, death and abortion (during a time in which it was still illegal). A highly relevant and relatable book even today, “there’s the sense of a literary feminist time-capsule”, columnist Barbara Ellen wrote of the 2018 reissue, “ capturing a key moment of generational societal shift.” Scarce signed.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Very Good
JACKET: Very Good