CLINGING TO THE WRECKAGE: A Part of Life. by MORTIMER, John:

London: Weidenfeld and Nicholson. 1982. First edition, first printing. First edition, first printing. Warmly inscribed by John Mortimer to the novelist Dick Francis and his wife Mary. Original blue cloth lettered in gilt, in dustwrapper. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the contents clean throughout. Light wear to spine tips. In the lightly shelf-worn dustwrapper, toned to the spine, a touch rubbed to corners and tips. Not price-clipped (£8.50 net to the front flap). A lovely association copy of Mortimer's first volume of autobiography. Inscribed by John Mortimer in black ink to the front free endpaper, "To Dick and Mary Francis / with thanks for a / good talk and wonderful lunch, / and with great admiration – / Ever / John Mortimer / Aug '82". The recipients are Mortimer's fellow novelist and friend Dick Francis and his wife (and writing associate) Mary. Mortimer, barrister and author, remains best known for his creation of the fictional character Horace Rumpole. A long standing admirer of Francis' writing, Mortimer published an extended review essay of the 1994 novel 'Wild Horses' in 'The New York Times Book Review' (October 2, 1994). "We live in a time when many highly regarded [...] novelists have forsaken plot", he wrote. "Stories are regarded as somewhat down-market and fit only for airport bookstands and poolside reading. [...] But the best writers, as well as the most popular, have always known that telling a story is the only way of inducing the reader to turn the pages. Dick Francis takes from Jan. 1 to May 8 each year to write a novel, and his latest, produced at the age of 73, is as compulsive as ever." Mortimer's 1982 memoir, 'Clinging to the Wreckage', dedicated to his family ("the survivors") takes the reader through the author's childhood, education, and his erratic career as a barrister and creator of a famous fictional barrister. Further details and images for any of the items listed are available on request. Lucius Books welcomes direct contact with our customers.