ALEXANDER THEROUX. — Three Wogs. A novel.

Chatto & Windus, London, 1st Edition, The common first casebound UK edition (it was simultaneously issued in hardback and paperback, the latter format under the imprint of Wildwood House). 8vo. 216pp. Red cloth lettered in gold at the spine. A tiny hint of spotting to the top and fore edges. Contemporary former owner name and date inked to the front free endpaper. Very good indeed in non-price-clipped dust wrapper, lightly rubbed at several extremities, and with some toning, chafing and soiling to the rear panel. The author's first novel, "a triptych, displaying three separate episodes in the lives of three extravagantly archetypal Londoners, each of whom undergoes a fateful encounter with his own particular wog" - blurb. The blurb further explains "The word 'wog' may be defined as a term of derogation employed by some natives of the British Isles to describe those inhabitants of their shores who are 'not one of us'. Used primarily to designate blacks of all shades, it can be extended to include Orientals, Irishmen, Italians, and indeed all people of perceptibly foreign habits or appearance. Even at times, Americans, of whom Alexander Theroux is one" [he is also the brother of writer Paul Theroux]. All this notwithstanding, it remains a somewhat problematic title. This UK edition appeared a year after the US edition, although the first section of the book was originally printed in 'The London Magazine'. The English issue, whether in hardback or paperback format, remains considerably more uncommon than its US counterpart., Very Good, Good