Published by Scribners, London; 1992. 8vo. First edition, first impression. 501pp. Condition: Near Fine/Very Good+
Tightly bound in original grey paper covered boards with quarter black cloth and title in silver to the spine. The binding is square and tight, free from damage and marks, with just a touch of bumping to the spine ends and corners. Inside, the pages are clean and bright with no signs of wear or marking, and just a touch of toning. The black stain to the top is still dark, although it has bled slightly on the top back corners of the pages.
The book is housed in its original first issue dust jacket. It is vibrant and smart, free from marks and damage, with just a little bumping to the edges and a stain to the inside of the jacket, not visible on the outside.
In all, this is a beautiful example of this first edition of this first edition by Iain Banks, in which describes recurrent rites of passage in a complex but enduring Scottish family. His central character's preoccupations with death, sex, drink, God, illegal substances and the motor car are lovingly embedded in his rich descriptions of the Scottish landscape. The novel combines menace and dark humour with an interesting treatment of love. The book follows Prentice's journey of discovery about himself, those he loves, and the ways of the world. "The Crow Road" is the name of a street in the west of Glasgow, but serves well as a metaphor for death. The appropriateness of the title becomes increasingly apparent as the novel progresses.