ROOM AT THE TOP

1957. BRAINE, John. ROOM AT THE TOP. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1957. Small 8vo., green cloth in dust jacket. First English Edition. Signed presentation from Braine on the front endpaper: "John Braine. With my best wishes to Harold Downs." Downs is a teacher whose students spotted a grammatical error in the text. With a typed letter signed from Braine to Downs laid in: "It is very flattering to have one's work discussed- I should have dearly loved to have listened in- though rather frightening. For, no matter how much care one takes, errors creep in. Often I've spotted errors in others work myself, and each time have vowed that I would never be so careless. Alas, I have sinned. Not once, but several times. Some of the errors have been corrected in later editions; but I didn't even know about this one. Your students are right; it should be SELLER's.... Congratulations to your students on being so hawk-eyed; but if any of them write a novel, warn them that I shall go through it with a fine-toothed comb!" Considered one of the seminal "angry young man" novels of the 1950s, "Room At The Top" was the basis for the 1959 film directed by Jack Clayton. The movie was nominated for six Academy Awards and won an Oscars for Best Screenplay and for actress Simone Signoret. The film was also nominated for Best Picture. Near fine (bright); moderate wear & soil (little chipping to spine ends) d/j. Enclosed in a custom-designed, clam-shell box with a gilt-tooled spine and a depiction on the front cover duplicating the image on the dust jacket. A nice presentation of an interesting book. $2875.00.