First edition, signed limited edition. One of 750 copies, this copy (out of series) is one of approximately 50 in the presentation state with a cancel half title. Author's presentation copy, inscribed on the limitation leaf to Nancy Mitford, "For Nancy with love from Evelyn". Original blue buckram, spine lettered in gilt, pictorial decoration to upper board gilt. Printed on mould made paper, top edge gilt, others uncut. With a colour frontispiece by Kathleen Hale. A near fine copy, a little faded to the spine.

An exceptional association copy.
Waugh's relationship with Nancy Mitford was one of the most enduring friendships of his lifetime, strengthened by a shared sense of humour and love of teasing, which blossomed through frequent and intimate correspondence.
This is in fine evidence in the correspondence exchanged around this book. In a letter of 26th October 1963, Nancy wrote to Waugh thanking him for sending her the book, though not without adding "I'm afraid that, in literature at any rate, middle-age people become rather dull" and questioned "do you think being brother and sister would have really stopped them marrying?"
Waugh replied with barbed, though probably faux, outrage "your odious letter was on my breakfast table on the morning of my 60th birthday... a sharp reminder that my powers are fading and that I am a bore... your family, if reports at the time were true, were particularly tolerant of incest". As with all their disagreements in their correspondence, the matter ended in conciliation rather than fallout, with Nancy imploring in her reply that Waugh should "live another sixty years please."
Waugh had arranged for 50 copies to be set aside for presentation but was dismayed to find that the book had no half-title. He insisted that 50 or so such leaves were printed and bound into his personal copies, thus creating a distinct bibliographic entity.

PROVENANCE: From the collection of Joy Law, publisher and Mitford's personal secretary in later life.

Stock ID: 39928