The Writers. A Sense of Ireland. New Work by 44 Irish writers with Photographs of the Writers by Mike Bunn. Dublin: The O’Brien Press, 1980. First Edition, Limited Issue.  Specially bound by Newman in full tan morocco, silk marker, title in gilt to spine, housed in original matching slipcase. Scattered foxing to contents, but overall a fine bright copy.

Special Limited Edition of 24 copies, this being one of Twelve Copies reserved for Presentation.

Signed by all 44 contributors, including:

Samuel Beckett, Seamus Heaney, Francis Stuart, William Trevor, Liam O’Flaherty, Sean O’Faolain, Mary Lavin, Thomas Kinsella, Benedict Kiely, Neil Jordan, Jennifer Johnston, Brian Friel, Eavan Boland, John Banville, etc.

This special edition carries two additional leaves bearing the forty-four signatures and one further printed leaf signed by those involved in the creation of the book: the editors, the photographer, the designer and the publisher.

Illustrated with forty-four portrait plates of the writers, except Samuel Beckett, which instead is of the iconic pair of old boots, battered bowler and a skeletal tree, a homage to Waiting for Godot.  

A unique assembly of the first appearance of work by forty-four Irish writers, including two Nobel Prize winners.

A rarity in the canon of modern Irish literature.