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A Bend in the River
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A Bend in the River Hardcover - 1979

by V. S. Naipaul


About this book

A Bend in the River is set in an unnamed postcolonial Central African country and narrated by Salim, a shopkeeper. Naipaul explores the chaos and violence suffered after independence and how a power vacuum can quickly lead to the tyranny of dictatorship.

Perceived by some to be written in defense of European colonialism, Naipaul admitted that he in fact knew very little about the region when he started writing the book. Despite this, the novel immediately won praise from critics for its poignant brilliance and was shortlisted for the Booker prize in 1979. In 1998 the Modern Library ranked A Bend in the River as one of the 100 best English-language books of the twentieth century.

From the publisher

In the "brilliant novel" (The New York Times) V.S. Naipaul takes us deeply into the life of one man -- an Indian who, uprooted by the bloody tides of Third World history, has come to live in an isolated town at the bend of a great river in a newly independent African nation. Naipaul gives us the most convincing and disturbing vision yet of what happens in a place caught between the dangerously alluring modern world and its own tenacious past and traditions.

First Edition Identification


Alfred A. Knopf published the First US Edition, First Impression in New York, 1979.


Andre Deutsch published the First UK Edition, First Printing in London, 1979.


Details

  • Title A Bend in the River
  • Author V. S. Naipaul
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition First Edition
  • Pages 278
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Alfred A. Knopf, New York
  • Date 1979
  • ISBN 9780394505732 / 0394505735
  • Weight 1.16 lbs (0.53 kg)
  • Library of Congress subjects Political fiction, East Indians - Africa - Fiction
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 78021591
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

About the author

V. S. Naipaul was born in Trinidad in 1932. He has published more than 20 books of fiction and nonfiction, including A House for Mr. Biswas, A Bend in the River, The Enigma of Arrival and An Area of Darkness. He lives in Wiltshire, England. He was knighted in 1990 and received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001.
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A Bend in the River

A Bend in the River

by Naipaul, V S

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good in good dust jacket. Signed by previous owner. Small stain on DJ (see photo), a few small (~1mm) tears and one tear ~1cm to
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780394505732
ISBN 10
0394505735
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Description:
New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 1979. Hard cover. Good in good dust jacket. Signed by previous owner. Small stain on DJ (see photo), a few small (~1mm) tears and one tear ~1cm to DJ.. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 278 p. Audience: General/trade; General/trade.
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A Bend in the River
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

A Bend in the River

by Naipaul, V. S.

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780394505732
ISBN 10
0394505735
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Alfred A. Knopf, 1979. Hardcover. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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A Bend in the River
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

A Bend in the River

by Naipaul, V. S.

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780394505732
ISBN 10
0394505735
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Description:
Alfred A. Knopf, 1979. Hardcover. Good. Missing dust jacket; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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A Bend in the River
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

A Bend in the River

by Naipaul, V. S.

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780394505732
ISBN 10
0394505735
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Alfred A. Knopf, 1979. Hardcover. Acceptable. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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A Bend in the River
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

A Bend in the River

by Naipaul, V. S.

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780394505732
ISBN 10
0394505735
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Alfred A. Knopf, 1979. Hardcover. Acceptable. Missing dust jacket; Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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A Bend in the River
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A Bend in the River

by V.S. Naipaul

  • Used
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  • Hardcover
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Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780394505732
ISBN 10
0394505735
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Alfred A. Knopf, 1979-05-12. Hardcover. Good.
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A Bend in the River
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A Bend in the River

by Naipaul, V. S

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780394505732
ISBN 10
0394505735
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A Bend in the River
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A Bend in the River

by V.S. Naipaul

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780394505732
ISBN 10
0394505735
Quantity Available
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A Bend in the River

A Bend in the River

by V.S. Naipaul

  • Used
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  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780394505732
ISBN 10
0394505735
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Alfred A. Knopf, 1979-05-12. hardcover. Good/Good. 8x5x1. Thank you for supporting Earthlight Books and independent bookstores. Hard cover with DJ. Good condition. Light to moderate shelf wear to boards and DJ. Clean, tight binding. First edition. First printing. Full number line and/or stated 1st edition.
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A Bend in the River

A Bend in the River

by Naipaul, V.S.

  • Used
  • very good
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Very Good
Edition
First US Edition/First Printing
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780394505732
ISBN 10
0394505735
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New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1979. First US Edition/First Printing. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. First Edition stated. In black cloth with gilt to type. Sharp corners, clean interior and solid binding. Fading to bottom of spine. Jacket is unclipped ($8.95)with chip at heel, some short tears and nicks to top edge and microchips to head of spine.
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