Description

EXCEPTIONAL PRE-PUBLICATION PRESENTATION/ASSOCIATION COPY
OF GRAHAM GREENE’S LOSER TAKES ALL, 1955, INSCRIBED BY HIM THE DAY BEFORE PUBLICATION TO CLOSE FRIEND, FILMMAKER PETER GLENVILLE

GREENE, Graham. Loser Takes All. London: William Heinemann, (1955). Octavo, original blue cloth, original dust jacket.

First edition, a highly memorable association copy inscribed to Greene’s close friend and frequent collaborator, filmmaker Peter Glenville, dated the day before publication (thus predating the Sutro copy), “For Peter, with love, from Graham, Jan. 30, 1955,” with scarce, laid-in publisher’s promotional card (measuring 3-1/2 by 5-1/2 inches).

Loser Takes All was one of a series of novels, such as Our Man in Havana (1958) and Travels With My Aunt (1969), that Greene called “entertainments,” which, despite their lighter touch, “showed a profound interest in the interplay of morality and abnormal behavior” (New York Times). “I had just finished Quiet American,” Greene recalled, “The mood of escape was still there, but this time it took me no further than Monte Carlo? to work long hours at the Casino tables? and to write what I hoped would prove an amusing, agreeably sentimental novella—something which neither my friends nor my enemies would expect. It was to be called Loser Takes All. A reputation is like a death mask. I wanted to smash the mask” (Greene, Ways of Escape). This rare association copy inscribed to Greene’s friend and frequent collaborator, director Peter Glenville (1913-96). Glenville directed Greene’s first play, The Living Room, which premiered in Sweden in 1952, and later worked with Greene as producer/director of the film The Comedians (1967). Following their collaboration on that screenplay, Greene described Glenville as “much better to work with than Carol [Reed]—more imaginative & more grasp of character” (Sherry III, 447). Loser Takes All also features a tribute to Greene’s longtime friend, film mogul Alexander Korda, memorialized as the character Dreuther. This copy dated by Green “Jan. 30, 1955,” the day before publication, thus predating the Sutro copy, which was signed on release. With scarce publisher’s promotional card laid in. Miller 34. Wobbe A34a.

Book fine; bright, unrestored dust jacket. A highly desirable association copy in about-fine condition.