George Mikes — Italy for Beginners

London, Andre Deutsch, 1959 . First edition. Cloth. A very scarce, signed copy of this charming work on Italy by George Mikes, delightfully illustrated by David Langdon. Second edition. First published in 1956. Very scarce. Signed by the author to the half title, with an inscription to fellow writer Stephen Vizinczey and his wife. Bound in the publisher's original cloth, with the original, unclipped, exceedingly scarce dust wrapper.This charming work on 'Italy for beginners' is comprised of interesting and amusing facts about travelling in Italy. With useful information on how to view a picture gallery in under four minutes, and immoral advice on parking a car in Rome, and much more. Illustrated throughout with charming monochrome drawings by cartoonist David Langdon, known for his contributions to Punch.From the library of Hungarian-Canadian author Stephen Vizinczey, best known for his 'In Praise of Older Women', and 'An Innocent Millionaire&apos. His writing was praised by the likes of Graham Greene and Anthony Burgess, describing his fiction as social epics which breathe hope in a corrupt world. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with the original, unclipped dust wrapper. Externally, excellent, with light shelf wear and a touch of fading to the head and tail of the spine. Dust wrapper is very good, with light edge wear and the odd closed tear. Sunning to the wrap, moreso to the spine, with the odd mark. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and clean, with author's ink inscription to the half title. Near Fine . Ill.: David Langdon. Near Fine/Very Good.