“MAYBE IT’S A PERIOD OF GRACE”: ON THE BEACH

SHUTE, Nevil. On the Beach. London: Heinemann, (1957). Octavo, original red cloth, original dust jacket. $550.

First edition of Shute’s chilling vision of nuclear war and humanity’s end.

An aviation engineer who helped develop secret weapons for the British during World War II, Shute's depiction of nuclear warfare's futility has been credited by many with having a direct effect on global policy. "Nevil Shute's novel and [1959] film On the Beach may have played a part in avoiding nuclear war (so far at least)" (Frederick Pohl). "An effective warning of an all-too-real possibility" (Anatomy of Wonder II-1012). Bookseller ticket.

Interior fresh with touch of foxing to preliminaries, mild soiling to cloth; light edge-wear, faint toning to spine of bright dust jacket. A near-fine copy.