Published by Faber & Faber, London; 1986. 8vo. 206pp. First edition. Condition: Near Fine/Fine.
Bound in original black cloth boards with gilt title to the spine. The binding is square and tight and free from marks or damage, save a hint of bumping to the spine ends. Inside, the pages are clean and bright with no signs of wear or blemishes. There is just some toning due to age. The book is the presumed second issue, printed by Richard Clay rather than Butler & Tanner.
The book is housed in it's original dust jacket, which is in very smart condition. It is free from marks or damage, with just a hint of bumping to the edges, it is otherwise vibrant, clean and bright, and complements the book beautifully.
In all, this is a very smart example of this sensitively told novel, Ishiguro's second book. It is set in Japan, post WWII and is narrated by Masuji Ono, an ageing painter, who looks back at his life and how he has lived it. The novel deals with the chief conflict of Ono needing to accept responsibility for his past actions, rendered politically suspect in the context of post-war Japan. It looks at the role of people in a rapidly changing political environment and deals with the assumption and denial of guilt. Indeed, this would be a very worthwhile addition to any modern book collection.