A Gentle Occupation

London: Chatto & Windus, 1980. First Edition. Hard Cover. Dust Jacket. Signed by Author. First UK Edition, First Printing. THIS COPY HAS BEEN MULTI-SIGNED BY DIRK BOGARDE, ANNA MASSEY (twice), PATRICIA NEAL, EDWARD FOX, CATHLEEN NESBITT, JOHN DANKWORTH (the jazz musician) - all at the front of the book on the half-title and title page - and by ROALD DAHL (who has signed to the rear free end-paper). The book was signed at a luncheon hosted by Foyles Bookshop in London held at The Dorchester Hotel in Park Lane that took place on March 19,1980 in honour of Dirk Bogarde to celebrate the publication of 'A Gentle Occupation', Publisher's blue boards with gilt spine lettering. A pale brown stain to the fore-edge (possibly caused by coffee?) otherwise a near fine copy in a VG+ dustwrapper lightly toned to the spine and with a strip of toning to the top cm or so of the back panel. All the signatories sat at the top table at the event. NB: There is a link between Roald Dahl and Dirk Bogarde in that Bogarde played Dahl in a TV production of The Patricia Neal Story in 1981 with Glenda Jackson playing the part of Patricia Neal). NNB: Cathleen Nesbitt (very elderly at the time of the lunch by that stage had formerly been engaged to Rupert Brooke before his death). SIGNED BY, INTER ALIA, ROALD DAHL. Photographs/scans available upon request.