The Fat Man in History (First Edition)

CAREY, Peter. The Fat Man in History. St. Lucia, Queensland: University of Queensland Press, 1974.

Small 8vo. Original black publisher's cloth. Spine lettered in white and orange. Original unclipped pictorial dust jacket, with cover art titled Cahill Expressway by Jeffrey Smart. 141 pp. First edition, first printing. Contains twelve short stories, including "Peeling," "Report on the Shadow Industry," "American Dreams," and the title story.

The first work by one of Australia’s most awarded and beloved authors. A collection of some of Carey’s earliest short stories. Bizarre, funny, and chilling, allegorical and fantastic. The stories follow an alter-reality in which a small town of “fat men” become ostracised by the government and plot to overthrow it. This hardcover first edition had an exceptionally small print run and has become extremely scarce. 

Very good in near fine dust jacket. One small tear to jacket upper edge near spine head. Contents very good, some foxing along upper edge of text block and some mild toning throughout.

This book is currently on display in the rare book section of our Leichhardt store.
If you would like more information or to arrange a viewing, please contact: rarebooks@harryhartog.com.au

Catalogue Number: HH000253