First edition of the author's first book. First edition of the author's true first novel, which he subsequently disowned and refused to be reissued.

Preceding the 1964 novel, The Old Boys, generally regarded as Trevor's first novel, A Standard of Behaviour was disowned by Trevor after publication and has been largely forgotten. It was written while Trevor was (unsuccessfully) working as a copywriter at an advertising agency and deals with several themes common in the author's later work including boredom, idleness, wealth, and the difficulty of establishing meaningful relationships.

First edition, first impression; 8vo; light foxing to prelims and endpapers, else unmarked internally; publisher's dark blue cloth, silver lettering to spine, with the price-clipped pictorial dust-jacket by Freda Nichols, some spotting and soiling, spine and extremities sunned, short closed tear to top edge of front panel, mild edge-wear, else very good.