The first five volumes of Dance, all first editions, original publisher's cloth in dustwrappers. Each volume inscribed by Powell to close friend Elizabeth Tennant, Baroness Glenconner, to the front end paper, generally "Elizabeth with love from Tony" and dated on publication. Fine or near fine copies in generally very good dustwrappers. The dustwrapper for A Question of Upbringing shows some fraying to the spine ends and a couple of splits, but is well preserved by the standards of this book. A Buyer's Market shows some fading to the spine of the cloth and a number of chips and tears to the dustwrapper. The Acceptance World has just minor chips to the head of the spine of the dustwrapper and At Lady Molly's and Casanova' Chinese Restaurant are both in near fine dustwrappers.

The first five volumes of Powell's defining work, each a contemporary presentation copy to his close friend, Lady Glenconner. Elizabeth Powell (no close relation) was styled Baroness Glenconner on her marriage to Christopher Tennant, 2nd Baron Glenconner in 1935. Powell had long been a family friend of the Tennants, in particular with Christopher's younger brother, Stephen, in the 1920s. The Glenconners took a keen interest in art and literature and became, at Powell's recommendation, a young V.S. Naipaul's patron upon his arrival in Britain from Trinidad, advancing him an unsecured loan to buy a property.
Powell and Elizabeth Tennant became close friends. It is notable that the dates of the inscription (month and year) are in each case the month of publication even in the case of At Lady Molly's which was published on 28 October, strongly suggesting that these were among a small number of author's own copies reserved for publication.

Elizabeth Tennant, Baroness Glenconner (presentation inscription from the author); Emma Tennant (novelist and daughter of Elizabeth Tennant).

Stock ID: 31669