{"product_id":"the-crust-on-its-uppers-first-edition","title":"The Crust on Its Uppers (First Edition)","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOOK, Robin\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cem\u003eThe Crust on Its Uppers.\u003c\/em\u003e London: New Authors [Hutchinson], 1962.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eCrown 8vo. Original black boards. Spine lettered in white with small decorations in green and ochre. Original unclipped pictorial dust jacket, design by Timothy Birdsall. 189, [ii] pp. \u003cstrong\u003eFirst edition. The author's first novel\u003c\/strong\u003e, published under his birth name.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eRobert William Arthur \"Robin\" Cook (who would achieve his lasting literary reputation more than two decades later under the pseudonym Derek Raymond) was born into considerable privilege, the son of a wealthy textile magnate, and educated at Eton, which he abandoned at seventeen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Crust on Its Uppers\u003c\/em\u003e, published in 1962 was his literary debut, drew directly on his own life experiences: a semi-autobiographical, slang-saturated account of class betrayal and criminal intrigue among a cast of London toffs turned crooked, narrated in a dense Cockney and underworld argot so thick that this edition includes a glossary to help readers navigate it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eCook published three further novels as \"Robin Cook\" through the 1960s before abandoning fiction for some years; his return to writing in 1984, now as Derek Raymond, produced the sequence of Factory novels that established him as one of the defining figures of modern British crime fiction. \u003cem\u003eThe Crust on Its Uppers\u003c\/em\u003e remains his true literary debut, and copies of the scarce 1962 first edition are consequently sought after by collectors of British crime fiction specifically interested in Raymond's earliest work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVery good in good dust jacket. \u003c\/strong\u003eDust jacket worn and creased along edges, strongest at spine ends and fold-in creases. Binding tight. Contents generally very good. Some mild foxing along edges and to endpapers. Otherwise, clean and bright throughout. Previous owner's inscription inked to front pastedown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThis book is currently not on display in store.\u003cbr\u003eIf you would like more information or to arrange a viewing, please contact: \u003ca href=\"mailto:rarebooks@harryhartog.com.au\" title=\"Harry Hartog Rare Book Department\"\u003erarebooks@harryhartog.com.au\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCatalogue Number: HH000234\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Robin Cook","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50527620497651,"sku":null,"price":180.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0634\/4284\/5939\/files\/1_b3984c61-fe74-41a1-ba8b-9e2a1cc4b4e2.png?v=1787719828","url":"https:\/\/www.harryhartog.com.au\/products\/the-crust-on-its-uppers-first-edition","provider":"Harry Hartog Bookseller","version":"1.0","type":"link"}