The Country Girls Trilogy : Comprising 'The Country Girls' , 'The Lonely Girl', ' Girls in Their Married Bliss' : All Three Volumes Signed By The Author : With The Stage Play Adaptation 'The Country Girls' , Also Signed By The Author

The Country Girl Trilogy - Comprising 'The Country Girl', 'The Lonely Girl' and 'Girls in Their Married Bliss'. All three books are the First UK printings published between 1960 and 1964. Comprising Vol. 1 : 'The Country Girls' (Hutchinson, London : 1960). The Book is in Very Good++ condition. The book is slightly cocked with light pushing to the spine ends. Some light toning and spotting to the text-block, the latter has slightly encroached onto the edge of a few pages. Some spotting and offsetting to the blank end-papers. Free from inscriptions. The WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good++or better condition. Some light edge-wear with a little rubbing and creasing to the upper spine tip. A little light rubbing in places. A few small nicks and closed tears to the upper edges. A little spotting to the verso which has light come through to the front in a few places. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. Vol. 2 : 'The Lonely Girl' (Jonathan Cape, London :1962. The Book is in Very Good++ condition. Some light pushing to the spine ends. Some light toning and spotting to the text-block, the latter has again, slightly encroached onto the edge of a few pages. Some spotting and offsetting to the prelims and blank end-papers. Free from inscriptions. The blue top-stain is present. The WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good++ or better condition. Some light edge-wear with some very light rubbing to the upper spine tip. Some very light rubbing and age related markings in places. A few small nicks and a small closed tear to the upper front spine fold. A little mild spotting to the rear panel and flaps. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. Vol.3 : 'Girls in their Married Bliss' (Jonathan Cape : 1964). The Book is in near Fine condition with only a hint of pushing to the spine ends. The grey top-stain is present. A neat penned previous owner's name and date to the upper front blank-end-paper. The WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good++ or better condition. Some light edge-wear with some rubbing and a little loss to the upper spine tip. A 4 cm closed tear to the upper spine fold with a little associated rubbing. A little rubbing to the corners and mild toning to the spine. Some very light age related markings in places. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. Vol.1 has been triple signed by the author : There is a signed bookplate which has been pasted to the title page : ' To Angharad Rhyder, with good wishes, Edna O'Brien'. This bookplate is very lightly spotted. Underneath the bookplate, Edna O'Brien has signed her name to the page in black pen, without dedication. To the blank front end-paper, there is a foldout bookmark which has been affixed to the end-paper. This has been signed by the author : 'For Angharad Ryder, A bookmark for you , Edna O B, May 1985'. Vols.2 and 3 have been signed (without dedication) by the author to the title page. The black ink looks the same as in volume 1. A nice set of the trilogy. O'Brien's first three novels form a trilogy and a testimony to life for women in southern Ireland in the middle of the twentieth century. It established its author as the major novelist she continued to be for the five decades - and counting. Accompanying this trilogy is the First UK printing of the stage play adaptation of 'The Country Girls' which was published by Faber, London in 2011. This was only issued in wraps format. The BOOK is in near Fine unread condition. It too has also been signed (without dedication) by the author to the title page. A very nice set of 'The Country Girls' and extremely scarce to find all signed. One of the highlights of 20th century Irish fiction. More images available on request. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.