Anthony Powell – At Lady Molly’s – First Edition 1957 – With a signed letter discussing the novel in progress and ‘The Music of Time’

Description

A first edition, first printing of At Lady Molly’s by Anthony Powell, published by Heinemann in 1957. A near fine book without inscriptions. Clean internally and tightly bound. Some slight wear to the corners and bumping to the head/base of the spine. In a near fine, unclipped wrapper with a small crease to the front flap. Some wear and rubbing to the edges. A little light soiling to the rear panel.
The letter, on ‘The Chantry’ headed notepaper is dated 3 January 1957 and reads: ‘Dear Mr Walker/It is really exceedingly kind of you to have written me so nice a letter about The Music of Time s. I am about two-thirds through a fourth volume and think the end may be in sight; but I never knew until the last moment how things are going. One lands oneself with really appalling technical complications as the book proceeds. The new one takes place principally in the year 1934 or thereabouts, and I hope to fit in a couple more before getting on to the war. It is always very encouraging to hear that people like them. Again many thanks, Best wishes for 1957. Yours sincerely, Anthony Powell’.
The ‘Best wishes for 1957’ and ‘Anthony Powell’ are hand-written in pink ink by Powell.
At Lady Molly’s is the fourth volume in Anthony Powell’s twelve-novel sequence. It was awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for the best novel of 1957.