Stuart, Douglas ~ Shuggie Bain : Double Signed And Lined By the Author

FIRST UK PRINTING : Picador, London : 2020

The First UK Printing published by Picador, London in 2020. Thick 8vo., black publisher's boards lettered vertically in gilt to spine; publisher's emblem to foot; in the photographic dustwrapper (£14.99) lettered in gilt with circular 'Signed copy' sticker to the front panel; The BOOK essentially fine, just the tiniest bumping at the spine tips and one very tiny white mark to the front paste-down. The WRAPPER is in fine condition. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. First edition, first printing, with full number line 1-10. This copy the publisher's special signed edition, with author's signature in blue beneath the printed 'signed by the author' line to the half title. This copy further embellished with a quotation in the author's hand in black pen to the title page: 'You'll not remember the city, you were too wee. But there was dancing, all kinds of dancing.' and signed by the author once again beneath. Stuart's debut novel tells the story of the titular character, Shuggie, and his experiences growing up with an alcoholic mother in the 1980s in post-industrial working-class Glasgow. Initially rejected by over 30 publishers, the book appeared in the USA in February 2020, and in the UK shortly after, although sales were initially impacted by the ongoing Covid19 pandemic. The cover features a photograph taken by Jez Coulson. "I was instantly struck by the power of Jez's photo the moment I saw it", Stewart later wrote. In 2020, the book was awarded the Booker Prize, making Stuart only the second author to receive the award. It was also awarded 'Book of the Year' at the British Book Awards 2021 and 'Debut of the Year' at the same event. "Shuggie Bain comes from a deep understanding of the relationship between a child and a substance-abusing parent", one reviewer in the Guardian later wrote, "showing a world rarely portrayed in literary fiction". A heartwrenching tale of addiction, family, sexuality and love. Scarce with such attributes.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Fine
JACKET: Fine