The Midnight Bell, A Love Story (1936)
Fourth printing of the first book of Patrick Hamilton's 20,000 Streets Under the Sky trilogy
Author
Publisher
Printing Details
First edition, fourth printing. Hardback in (partial) dustwrapper. 19 × 12.5cm, 302pp.
The first volume in what became Hamilton's 20,000 Streets Under the Sky trilogy. First published in 1929 and the most semi-autobiographical of Hamilton's novels, the story centres on Bob, an ex-sailor working at The Midnight Bell, a pub near the Euston Road in London. He wants to pursue a career as a writer and has saved £80. He falls for Jenny Maples, a prostitute, and squanders his money on her and her leaving him with nothing, and Jenny loses interest in him. Penniless and heart-broken, he leaves The Midnight Bell and returns to the sea.
Condition
A fair but readable copy. The dustwrapper suffers significant loss to the top corner of the upper board, and to the spine ends. It has been price-clipped but with publisher's price-sticker to the spine. The book has rubbing to the boards' edges and a little faded, and there is some movement in the front joint though remaining well attached and the hinge is not cracked. Light spotted foxing to the page edges, the main body of text is clean and the binding secure.
As of July 2026, books remain duty-free. The price of the book incurs no extra US import fees.
Price
£50.00
