THE ROAD TO WIGAN PIER
London: Victor Gollancz, (1937). First Edition ("Left Book Club Edition / Not for Sale to the Public"). Part I of the book describes the living condition of coal miners in the industrial North of England, illustrated with photographs. Part II describes Orwell's own middle-class upbringing, and the development of his social and political conscience. The publisher, Victor Gollancz -- a devoted social reformer himself -- put up the funds for Orwell to live among the miners for several months. This book preceded Orwell's postwar ANIMAL FARM and NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR by about a decade. This copy in wraps is near-fine, with a few stray orange threads at some edges. Though not an incredibly scarce book, it typically turns up -- when it does -- soiled and deeply frayed. Item #10326
Price: $500.00