The Frederica Quartet. 1. The Virgin in the Garden; 2. Still Life; 3. Babel Tower; 4. A Whistling Woman.
London: Chatto & Windus, 1978-2002. 8vo. First editions, first impressions. Original hardcovers, gilt. 1. Ink presentation on the flyleaf, 'For Peter Strange With best wishes A S Byatt Redeat et virgo Redeunt Saturnia regna. October 14th 1981'. 3. Flat signed on the title page. All volumes in unclipped d/ws (with very slight fading to the spines of 2 & 3). Fine in fine d/ws. Item #7835
A fine set of the four novels featuring Frederica Potter, known as the Frederica Quartet, with two of the books signed by the author and the first with her slightly altered quotation, about the good times returning, from Virgil's Eclogues. A regular customer of Heywood Hill's bookshop, she had books sent to her homes in Putney and Provence. She once called the shop and spoke to me while sheltering under a bed as a thunderstorm rolled around the mountains in the south of France.
Price: £325.00