The Fat Man in History.

First English edition signed by the author. A very good first English edition of the short story collection that made Peter Carey's name when it was first published in Australia in 1974, after four unsuccessful novel attempts by Carey. It was the success with The Fat Man in History that emboldened what became a prolific career in writing, two Booker Prize wins and two nominations, and a long career as executive director of the MFA Creative Writing program at Hunter College in New York City.

The eponymous short story asks the question, 'If, in some post-Marxist utopia, obesity were declared counterrevolutionary, how would a houseful of fat men strike back?'. The rest of the collection features more stories presenting bizarre premises that reveal truths about 'our brightest and darkest selves'.

First English edition, signed by the author in pen to title page; 8vo; publisher's blue cloth, spine lettered in silver, a very good copy with very good typographic uncut dust-jacket, very slight fading to top right of back panel; 186pp.