John Le Carre, 1961

Call for the Dead
John Le Carre, 1961
LE CARRÉ, John (1931-2020). Call for the Dead. London: Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1961.

Superb copy of the first edition of the author’s first published work. Call for the Dead further introduces us to the shrewd intelligent officer George Smiley, Le Carré’s best-known character, who would appear in several later novels. This copy is in superlative condition in a glowing dust jacket announcing the author's debut: "Mr le Carré is a gifted new crime novelist with a rare ability to arouse excitement, interest & compassion."

Octavo. Original red cloth (two tiny spots to fore-edge, miniscule ownership inscription in pencil dated Christmas 1961); dust jacket (some soft creases to front flap). Very fine. Custom red morocco-backed clamshell case.