Alan Sillitoe — The Rats & Other Poems

London, W.H. Allen, 1960. First edition. Cloth. The first edition of a compelling poetry anthology with biting criticism of colonialism from Alan Sillitoe, a talented critic of Post-War Britain. The first edition of The Rats & Other Poems, the first volume of poems written by acclaimed English writer Alan Sillitoe. In the publisher's original grey cloth, in the original unclipped dust wrapper. Sillitoe wrote the anthology whilst travelling through England, France and Spain, and is filled with biting criticism of Europe's colonial history, as well as musings on love, exile and death. Originally working in a factory and later for the Royal Air Force, Sillitoe would reach fame for Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. Much to his dismay, his criticism of Post-War Britain in his fiction placed him among the 'Angry Young Men' popular in the 1950s. In the publisher's original grey cloth, in the original unclipped dust wrapper. Externally, mostly smart, with minimal marks to boards. Minor fading to the spine, and small knocks to the head and tail, and to the extremities. Dust wrapper is mostly bright and clean, with minor browning to wrapper spine and to rear wrapper extremities. Minor edgewear, with small nicking to head of wrapper spine. Offsetting to free end paper hinges. Small ink inscription to corner of front free end paper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good/Very Good.