A Bend In the River
by Naipaul, V S
A Bend in the River is set in an unnamed postcolonial Central African country and narrated by Salim, a shopkeeper. Naipaul explores the chaos and violence suffered after independence and how a power vacuum can quickly lead to the tyranny of dictatorship. Perceived by some to be written in defense of European colonialism, Naipaul admitted that he in fact knew very little about the region when he started writing the book. Despite this, the novel immediately won praise from critics for its poignant brilliance and was shortlisted for the Booker prize in 1979. In 1998 the Modern Library ranked A Bend in the River as one of the 100 best English-language books of the twentieth century.
First Edition Identification and Notes
Alfred A. Knopf published the First US Edition, First Impression in New York, 1979.
Andre Deutsch published the First UK Edition, First Printing in London, 1979.
Other Collectible or Notable Editions
The Easton Press published a First Edition Thus, Collector’s Leather Bound Edition in Norwalk, Connecticut, 2000.
The Modern Library published a First Edition Thus, Modern Library Collection Edition in New York, 1997.
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Available copies

A Bend in the River.
by NAIPAUL, V.S.
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- Shapero Rare Books
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$2,202.38
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New York, Alfred A Knopf, 1979. . First edition, first impression; 8vo (22 x 15 cm); presentation copy, signed 'V.S. Naipaul for Al Murray on the title page'; original black cloth with author's initials in gilt to upper board and title in gilt to spine, marked and spine rubbed, with the dust jacket, faded and torn… Read more
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A Bend in the River.
by Naipaul, V.S
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- Raptis Rare Books
- Published
- 1979
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$1,450.00
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London: Andre Deutsch, 1979. First edition of Naipaul's "brilliant novel" (The New York Times). Octavo, original cloth. Inscribed by the author on the title page, "For William with all good wishes V.S. Naipaul." The recipient, William Marsden was a friend of Naipaul's for many years. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Tony Moore. In response to… Read more
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A Bend in the River
by V.S. Naipaul
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- Grayshelf Books, IOBA, TXBA
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- 1979
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- Fine
- ISBN
- 9780394505732
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$1,395.00
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Stated First Edition/First Printing with no mention of subsequent printings (first printing point for Knopf); A Fine book in a Fine dust jacket. Flat SIGNED by the author on the title page with no inscription. An extraordinary copy of this novel by the Nobel Prize winning author; this novel short listed for the Booker Prize and included in Modern Library's… Read more
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A Bend in the River.
by Naipaul, V.S
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- Raptis Rare Books
- Published
- 1979
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$1,100.00
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London: Andre Deutsch, 1979. In response to A Bend In the River, John Updike praised Naipaul as, "a master of fictional landscape, who here shows, in his variety of human examples and in his search for understanding social causes, a Tolstoyan spirit." Named by Modern Library as one of the 100 greatest novels of the twentieth century.
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A Bend in the River
by V.S. Naipaul
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- Globalbookscare
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- 1979-05-12
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- Good
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$205.58
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Alfred A. Knopf, 1979-05-12. Hardcover. Good.
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A BEND IN THE RIVER
by Naipaul, V.S.
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- 2000
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- First edition thus
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$200.00
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Norwalk, Connecticut: The Easton Press, 2000. First edition thus. Leather-bound. Fine. First edition thus. Leather-bound. Octavo. 278pp. Full red leather, stamped in gold. SIGNED COLLECTOR'S EDITION, signed by the author. With the signed certificate of authenticity.
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A Bend in the River
by V. S. Naipaul
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- 2000
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- New with no dust jacket
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$199.99
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Norwalk, Conn.: Easton Press. New with no dust jacket. 2000. Hardcover. Red full leather titled/decorated in gilt, all edges gilt, silk ribbon marker, moire endpages, raised spine bands. New in shrinkwrap in original box. Signed by author. Bookplate available on request. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; Signed by Author .
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A Bend in the River
by V. S. Naipaul
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- 2000
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- Near Fine
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- Signed Easton Press
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$154.00
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Norwalk, CT: Easton Press, 2000. Collector's Edition. Near Fine. Signed by V.S. Naipaul on Easton's signature page. The book is tight and square with solid hinges and clean unmarred boards. Textblock is clean with no writing, bookplate or markings. Bound in full leather, with 22 kt inlaid embellishments and gilded page edges, a satin page marker, and silk moire endpapers.… Read more
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A Bend in the River
by V.S. Naipaul
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- The Easton Press
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- Very Good
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$150.00
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The Easton Press, The Easton Press. Hardcover. Very Good. . Collector's edition. SIGNED by author. Certificate of Authenticity laid in. Full red leather with vibrant gilt lettering and embellishments. All edges gilt, raised bands on spine, silk bookmark. Slight edge wear. Protected in removable archival plastic sleeve.
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A Bend in the River
by Naipaul, V S
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$134.87
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Audio CD. Good. Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
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A BEND IN THE RIVER
by Naipaul, V. S.
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- FIRST
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$125.00
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EASTON Book. Fine. Signed by Author(s). FIRST. FINE FIRST IN FULL LEATHER SIGNED..
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A BEND IN THE RIVER
by NAIPAUL, V.S
- Seller
- Glenn Books
- Published
- 1979
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- Fine
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- Collector's Edition
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$125.00
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Norwalk, Connecticut: The Easton Press, 1979. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR on front limitation page. All edges gilt. Covers and spine decorated and lettered in gilt. Sewn-in silk bookmark. A certificate of authenticity and an Easton Note about the author and book are laid-in.First published in 1979, the book was short listed for the Booker Prize that year. 278pp.. Signed… Read more
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A Bend in the River
by Naipaul, V. S.
- Seller
- Bookbid Rare Books
- Published
- 1979
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
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$90.00
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Andre Deutsch Limited, 1979. First Edition. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. Published in London by Andre Deutsch Limited in 1979. First Published in 1979 stated on copyright page. Book near fine except for slightly bumped ends of spine and curved scratch on front cover. DJ near fine except for slightly bumped ends of spine, two small dents on front spine hinge,… Read more
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A Bend In The River
by V.S. Naipaul
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- after-words bookstore
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- 1979
- Condition
- Good -
- Edition
- First Edition
- ISBN
- 9780394505732
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$82.50
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New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1979. S278pp. Originalcloth covered boards. tated First Edition. Pages are clean (unmarked) but age-toned. Binding is tight and secure. Boards have denting to head/heel of spine, sunning/soiling to edges, rubbing to extremities. Unclipped DJ is sunned/yellowed/finger soiled with darkening to edges. Chipping to head/heel of spine (1" jagged piece missing from… Read more
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A BEND IN THE RIVER
by Naipaul, V.S.
- Seller
- J. Wyatt Books
- Published
- 1979
- Edition
- 1st UK Edition
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$80.50
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London: Andre Deutsch, 1979. 296 pages. Pages, endpapers clean, v/g. Green cloth, gilt title on spine. 3 spots on upper cover. White dust jacket not price clipped. VG/VG+. 1st UK Edition. Hard Cover.
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A Bend in the River (Modern Library)
by V.S. Naipaul
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- GridFreed LLC
- Published
- 1997-07-29
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- New
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- 9780679602675
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$78.90
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Modern Library, 1997-07-29. Hardcover. New. New.
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A Bend in the River
by V.S. Naipaul
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- GridFreed LLC
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- 1979-05-12
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- New
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$72.64
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Alfred A. Knopf, 1979-05-12. Hardcover. New. New.
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A bend in the river
by Naipaul, V.S. (Vidiadhar Surajprasad)
- Seller
- MW Books Ltd.
- Published
- 1979
- Edition
- First Edition
- ISBN
- 9780233971407
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$72.00
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London : Deutsch, 1979. First Edition. Hardcover. Near fine cloth copy in a very good, slightly edge-nicked and dust-dulled dust-wrapper, now mylar-sleeved. Slight staining to the dust-wrapper. Remains particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and strong. Physical description: 296p ; 18cm. Subjects: English fiction. Authors, Trinidadian -- 20th century.
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A Bend In The River
by V.S. Naipaul
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- Sellers & Newel Second-Hand Books
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- 1979
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- 1st Edition
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$60.00
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New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1979. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Fine/Fine. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. First Edition. Clean, square and tight. Pages are unmarked. Jacket is in bright and wonderful condition. The acclaimed author's follow-up to 'Guerrillas', which was hailed by The New York Times as 'The Best Book of 1975.' A lovely copy.… Read more
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A bend in the river
by NAIPAUL, V.S.
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- Rootenberg Rare Books & Manuscripts
- Published
- 1979
- Edition
- FIRST AMERICAN EDITION
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$60.00
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New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1979. FIRST AMERICAN EDITION. Black cloth, gilt lettering on the cover and spine, dust jacket slightly worn around the edges and flaps; overall a very clean uncut copy.
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A Bend in the River
by Naipaul, V. S
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- GridFreed LLC
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- 1989-03-13
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$56.46
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Vintage, 1989-03-13. Paperback. New. New.
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A Bend in the River
by Naipaul, V.S
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- GridFreed LLC
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- 1980-05-12
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- 9780394743141
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$55.88
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Vintage, 1980-05-12. Paperback. New. New.
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A Bend in the River
by V.S. Naipaul
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- Bonita
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$55.30
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Hardcover. Good. Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
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A Bend In The River
by V. S Naipaul
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- Thomas J. Joyce And Company
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- ( 1979 )
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First edition
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- 9780233971407
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$50.00
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London: Andre Deutsch, ( 1979 ). First edition. Hardcover. Very Good/price-clipped. 8vo, 296 pages, greenish cloth, inked name on endpaper;
Naipaul was to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2001. "His level of perception is of the highest, and his prose has become the perfect instrument for realising those perceptions on the page - Martin… Read more
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Bend in the River
by Naipaul, V.S.
- Seller
- Fialta Books
- Published
- 1979
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- 1st Edition 1st Printing
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$53.11 $47.80Save $15.13!
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Andre Deutsch, 1979. 1st Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. Very Good/Poor. 1st Printing. Book in very good condition no yellowing. Dust Jacket is poor.
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A BEND IN THE RIVER
by V. S. Naipaul
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- Rare Book Cellar
- Published
- 1997
- Edition
- 1st Modern Library Edition; First Printing
- ISBN
- 9780679602675
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$47.50
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New York: Modern Library. 1997. 1st Modern Library Edition; First Printing. Hardcover. 0679602674 . Near Fine in a Very Good dust jacket. ; Modern Library; 7.3 X 4.8 X 1.4 inches; 448 pages .
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A Bend in the River (Modern Library)
by V.S. Naipaul
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A BEND IN THE RIVER
by Naipaul, V.S.
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- The Sensible Magpie
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- 1979
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- Fine
- Edition
- First U.S. Edition
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- 9780394505732
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$45.00
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NEW YORK: Alfred A. Knopf, 1979. First U.S. Edition. Hardcover. Fine/Very Good Plus. NOTE GOOD PLUS ONLY DUSTJACKET CONDITION. A novel set in modern day (1970's) Africa, about the isolation of one man and his relationship to the tumultuous times of which he is, albeit often unknowingly, a part. Just a bit of sunning and Extremely light smudging… Read more
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A BEND IN THE RIVER
by V. S. Naipaul
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- Rare Book Cellar
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- 1979
- Edition
- First Edition; Fourth Printing
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- 9780394505732
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$44.95
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New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 1979. First Edition; Fourth Printing. Hardcover. 0394505735 . Very Good+ in a Near Fine dust jacket. ; 8.4 X 5.8 X 1.1 inches; 278 pages .
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A Bend in the River
by V.S. NAIPAUL
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$43.44
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A Bend in the River
by Naipaul, V. S. (Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul)
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- S. Howlett-West Books (member of ABAA & ILAB)
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- 1979
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- 9780394505732
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$40.00
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New York: Alfred A. Knopf. Near Fine in Very Good+ dust jacket. 1979. 1st Edition; 1st Printing. Hardcover. 0394505735 . This book is in Near Fine condition and has a Very Good+ dust jacket. The book and its contents are in clean, bright condition. There is some slight scuffing to a patch of the front cover of the… Read more
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A Bend in the River
by Naipaul, V S
- Seller
- Weller Book Works ABAA/ILAB
- Published
- 1979
- Condition
- Very Good
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$40.00
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Alfred A. Knopf, 1979. Very Good. Naipaul, V S. A Bend in the River. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1979. 1st American edition. 278pp. 8vo. Black linen with gilt lettering. Book condition: Very good with subtly rubbed edges and a couple of faint spots. Dust Jacket Condition: Very good with lightly faded spine and slightly bumped edges. Tiny… Read more
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A Bend in the River
by Naipaul, V.S.
- Seller
- The Plantagenet King
- Published
- 1979
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
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$37.76
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London: Andre Deutsch. First edition. This is a near fine copy. The dust wrapper is lightly rubbed at the top edge and the top and tail of the spine. The spine is lightly soiled and the wrapper has been neatly price clipped. It was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1979. In 1998, the Modern Library ranked A Bend in… Read more
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A Bend in the River (Modern Library)
by V.S. Naipaul
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- The Oregon Room
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- 1997-07-29
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- Like New
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- 9780679602675
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$35.95
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Modern Library, 1997-07-29. Hardcover. Like New. 1997 1st printing, clean & tight, price intact on dustjacket, only very slight shelfwear, in new Mylar, clean unmarked text, square corners, not a remainder, a very attractive copy.
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A Bend in the River - a novel
by V.S. Naipaul
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- West Side Book Shop, ABAA
- Published
- 1979
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First American Edition
- ISBN
- 9780394505732
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$35.00
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New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1979. Book. Very Good. Hardcover. First American Edition. Octavo. 278 pp, text in four titled parts. stated "First Edition". Binding tight, pages clean, bright, and unmarked, black cloth covered boards, & spine cover letters and design VG. White illustrated DJ unclipped, with minor soil & edgewear esp at spine top & rear top… Read more
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A Bend in the River
by Naipaul, V.S
- Seller
- Robinson Street Books, IOBA
- Published
- 1979
- Condition
- Good
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$35.00
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Knopf, 1979. Hardback. Good. Prompt shipment, with tracking. we ship in boxesGood Copy, First Edition, Chipped Dust Jacker. 8vo, 278 pgs.
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A Bend in the River
by Naipaul, V.S.
- Seller
- J. E. MILES, A BOOKSELLER
- Published
- 1979
- Condition
- Collectible - Good/Good
- Edition
- First Edition
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$34.95
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Borzoi. Collectible - Good/Good. 1979. First Edition. Hard Cover. (E364) .
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A Bend in the River: Introduction by Patrick Marnham (Everyman's Library Contemporary Classics Series)
by Naipaul, V. S.
- Seller
- Bonita
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- New
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- 9781101908198
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$32.34
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Hardcover. New. Brand New.
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A Bend in the River
by V. S. Naipaul
- Seller
- The Book and Record Bar
- Published
- 1979
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
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$28.95
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This is a near fine condition book. Light bumping. Some page tanning and foxing. No inscriptions or price cut. 1st Edition.
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A Bend in the River
by V. S. Naipaul
- Seller
- Ergodebooks
- Published
- 2009-04-09
- Condition
- Good
- Edition
- Reprint
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- 9781442005532
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$27.42
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2009-04-09. Reprint. Library Binding. Good.
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A Bend in the River
by Naipaul, V. S.
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- Bonita
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- 9780679722021
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$26.73
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Paperback. New. Brand New.
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A Bend in the River (Modern Library)
by V.S. Naipaul
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- 1997-07-29
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$26.44
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Modern Library, 1997-07-29. Hardcover. Good.
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Bend in the River
by V. S. Naipaul
- Seller
- ThriftBooks
- Published
- 1989
- Condition
- Acceptable
- ISBN
- 9780613171076
- Item Price
-
$25.69
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Turtleback, 1989. School & Library Binding. Acceptable. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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A Bend in the River (Everyman's Library Contemporary Classics Series)
by Naipaul, V. S
- Seller
- Russell Books Ltd
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9781101908198
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$25.20
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Everyman's Library. New. Special order direct from the distributor
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A Bend in the River
by V S Naipaul
- Seller
- M Godding Books Ltd
- Published
- 1979-01-01
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- ISBN
- 9780233971407
- Item Price
-
$25.16
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Andre Deutsch, 1979-01-01. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good Jacket. First Edition. Posted within 1 working day. Robust recyclable packaging. 1st class post to the UK, Airmail worldwide
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$25.16

A Bend in the River
by Naipaul, V. S.
- Seller
- Voyageur Book Shop
- Published
- 1979
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- First Edition.
- ISBN
- 9780394505732
- Item Price
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$25.00
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New York: Alfred A. Knopf. The dust jacket is price-clipped with minor soiling. M4 . Near Fine. Cloth. First Edition.. Second Printing. 1979.
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$25.00

A Bend in the River
by NAIPAUL, V.S.
- Seller
- Sutton Books
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$25.00
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Alfred A. Knopf, 1979. Hbk, 278pp, 4th printing, dj faintly toned at the spine with one very small closed tear, but not price-clipped ($8.95) and now in protective sleeve, internally an excellent, clean, tight unmarked copy
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$25.00

A Bend in the River
by V.S. Naipaul
- Seller
- books4U2day
- Published
- 1989-03-13
- Condition
- Acceptable
- ISBN
- 9780679722021
- Item Price
-
$24.62
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Vintage, 1989-03-13. Paperback. Acceptable. Nice looking book, has minor edge wear.has writing on inside cover page and on 70% of the book. has used label on spine and rear cover.
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$24.62

A Bend in the River: Introduction by Patrick Marnham (Everyman's Library Contemporary Classics Series)
by Naipaul, V. S.
- Seller
- BookCorner COM LLC
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9781101908198
- Item Price
-
$23.53
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New. .
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A Bend in the River: Introduction by Patrick Marnham (Everyman's Library Contemporary Classics Series)
by Naipaul, V. S.
- Seller
- Phillybooks COM LLC
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- New
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- 9781101908198
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$23.53
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New. .
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