Published by Doubleday, London; 2005. 8vo. 303pp. First edition, first impression. Condition: Fine/Near Fine.
Bound in original black cloth boards with title in gilt to the spine. The binding is square and tight and in excellent condition, with just a little bumping to the corners and spine ends. Inside, the pages are clean and bright and free from marks or damage, with barely a hint of toning.
This beautiful book is housed in its original first issue jacket. It is vibrant and bright and in very smart condition. There is a little bumping to the edges and rubbing to the front and back. There is a little spotting at the bottom of the front panel.
Overall, this is a very smart example of this modern first, the first novel by Indian diplomat Vikas Swarup. It tells the rags to riches story of Ram Mohammed Thomas, a young waiter who becomes the biggest quiz show winner in history, only to be arrested and jailed on accusations of cheating. This book was later loosely adapted into the multiple Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire. Swarup found his inspiration for this novel from a newspaper article about children living in the slums using mobile phones and the internet. It was around the same time that Charles Ingram, a Major in the British army, was found guilty of cheating on 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' and, as quoted by Swarup "if a British army Major can be accused of cheating, then an ignorant tiffin boy from the world's biggest slum can definitely be accused of cheating."