London: Hutchinson, 1994

8vo, pp. 259. Original grey boards, lettered in silver to spine. Hippopotamus motif to endpapers. Illustrated dust jacket, author's photographic portrait to rear flap. A fine copy in a near fine dust jacket with just a little sunning to spine.

First edition of Fry's second novel, INSCRIBED TO HIS PUBLISHER SUE FREESTONE'S CHILDREN: 'To Sophie & James James & Sophie lots & lots & lots & lots of love from your old friend Stephen Fry XXX'.

Sue Freestone was publishing director at Heinemann, Hutchinson and Quercus over the course of a distinguished career, and guided the early -- and then mature -- careers of many authors who became best sellers. As well as Fry, her list included Douglas Adams, Robert Harris and Sebastian Faulks, and she also saw into print books by political figures, among them Alastair Campbell, Tony Benn and Bill Clinton.