Wrapper artwork by Philippe Jullien

Simmel, Johannes Mario ~ It Can’t Always Be Caviar – The Fabulously Daring Adventures and Exquisite Cooking Recipes of the Involuntary Secret Agent Thomas Lieven

Anthony Blond, London : 1965

The First UK printing published by Anthony Blond, London in 1965. The BOOK is in Very Good++ condition. Some ghosting to the spine with a little light fading to the extreme spine tips and edges. Some toning to the spine and page edges due to the cheap quality of the paper stock used. Some offsetting to the blank end-papers. Free from inscriptions. The WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good+ condition. Some toning and light spotting to the edges, heavier to the flap edges. The spine is lightly toned and faded. Mild edge-wear with a 7cm closed tear to the rear flap. A little splitting of the laminate to the folds in places. The Philippe Jullien wraparound wrapper artwork remains striking in the removable Brodart archival cover. 'Documentary novel, roaring prevarication, or parody of the James Bond tale of international intrigue, Caviar may sometimes be hard to swallow but it sure isn't dull. It is subtitled 'The fabulously daring adventures and exquisite cooking recipes of the involuntary secret agent Thomas Lieven...' Lieven is at times a triple double-agent, working for and against the German, British and French secret services, and later the Russian and American. A convinced pacifist and a German, Lieven is also a master swindler, seducer and gastronomist (his recipes are given in exquisite detail indeed.) Author Simmel tells us that he got this tale from Lieven himself (a fictitious name) and that this is a true story told in the form of a novel for purposes of disguise. Lieven, though, like Lanny Budd, gets involved with famous living people such as J. Edgar Hoover, the Gestapo's Admiral Canaris, master Soviet spy Rudolph Abel, and at one point is helping Josephine Baker in the French Underground. He is constantly being kidnapped, rescued and forced into service by opposing spy systems in his very funny reversals of fortune over a twenty-year period... Whether legpull or the truth, this will be widely enjoyed for its Escapist Sauce Supreme'. (Kirkus Reviews March 1965). A scarce survivor.

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