le Carre, John (1965) ‘The Looking-Glass War’, UK signed and inscribed association first edition

John le Carré (1965) ‘The Looking-Glass War‘, UK first edition, first printing, published by Heinemann. Signed and inscribed to the author’s literary agent George Greenfiled. Inscribed first on the ffep: “Dear George, | This is a very | bad edition of a | book you liked, as | a reminder that very | few others did, and | that I was grateful | for your perception. | Ever | David | 29 Feb 71″. Once more inscribed on the title page: “For | George Greenfield | from | John le Carré”.

We also provide George Greenfield’s autobiography “A Smattering of Monsters – a kind of memoir”, published in 1995, where in a few pages Greenfield recalls how he became David Cornwell’s (John le Carré’s real name) agent in 1970 and remained the author’s representative for sixteen years until his retirement. During this working relationship the Karla trilogy was published, undoubtedly le Carré’s masterpiece. A very strong association and hard to imagine a better one.

Condition: in near fine condition for the harshest of judges. As often is the case, the dust jacket is spine faded. However, the spine still retains some of the red pigmentation. Most dust jackets have gone completely white. It also is price clipped. The actual book is a beauty without any other inscriptions apart form the author’s own.

‘The Looking-Glass War’ is John le Carré’s fourth novel, the fourth featuring the charismatic George Smiley, and the first book following the landmark and breakthrough ‘The Spy Who Came in from the Cold’ (1963). le Carré conceptualised ‘The Looking-Glass War’ following the public’s reception of ‘The Spy Who Came in from the Cold’. The British public received Alec Leamas too much of a hero for the author’s liking, and so ‘The Looking-Glass War’ was supposed to de-romanticise spywork by this satire.