Futility
by Gerhardie, William
WILLIAM GERHARDIE (1895–1977) was born “Gerhardi” in St. Petersburg, Russia, the son of British parents—he added the final “e” late in life. At the outbreak of World War I Gerhardie joined the army where his language skills led to assignment at the British Mission in Siberia. There he worked in a propaganda campaign aimed at disrupting the Bolshevik take-over of the country after the Russian Revolution (which had ruined his family and forced them to flee the country). Gerhardie’s work earned him the Order of the British Empire at age 24. Upon his return to England, he enrolled at Oxford and soon produced his first novel, Futility, based on his recent experience in Russia. The book won praise from Evelyn Waugh, H.G. Wells, George Bernard Shaw, Edith Wharton, Graham Greene and others—but did not sell well. While still at school he wrote the first critical appreciation of Chekhov to appear in English, still cited by scholars as one of the most perceptive. Several critically celebrated novels followed, including The Polyglots, Doom, and Pending Heaven, and he became the toast of literary London. The press magnate Lord Beaverbrook doted on Gerhardie and tried, unsuccessfully, to increase Gerhardie’s sales by serializing his books in his newspapers. In 1939, Gerhardie stopped publishing, although for the rest of his life he told friends he was working on a four-volume novel called The Present Breath. Gradually falling into poverty, he rarely left his London apartment, and when he died there in 1977, no trace of The Present Breath was found.
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FUTILITY: A Novel on Russian Themes
by William Gerhardie
- Condition
- Used - Very GOOD
- Jacket Condition
- VERY GOOD
- Edition
- Revised Edition
- Published
- 1971
- Binding
- Hardcover
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Hyattsville, Maryland, USA
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A$27.34
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St. Martin's Press, Inc, 1971. Revised Edition. Hardcover. Very GOOD/VERY GOOD. 205 pages in Unmarked hardcover with an unclipped jacket which is protected with a BrodArt Mylar wrapper. Black cloth boards with silver title on spine. 8x6 inches. Item Price
A$27.34
Futility (The Revised Definitive Edition) #7003
by Gerhardie, William
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- First Thus Edition
- Published
- 1971
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- Hardcover
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Chicago, Illinois, USA
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A$52.66
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St. Martin's Press, 1971. First Thus Edition. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. Octavo. Out of print. Binding is cloth. Item Price
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Futility (Modern Classics)
by Gerhardie, William
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 1974-06-27
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780140003918
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- 1
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London, London, GBR
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A$17.28
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Penguin Books Ltd, 1974-06-27. Paperback. Very Good. in x in x in. 1981 Softcover with tight binding. Condition: Very Good. Clean and bright text. Item Price
A$17.28
Futility: Novel (Revived Modern Classic)
by William Gerhardie
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- Used Good
- Published
- September 1991
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- Trade Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780811211765
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Kutztown, Pennsylvania, USA
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New Directions, September 1991. Trade Paperback. Used Good. We carry new and used books in our storefront. We want you to be satisfied with your purchase. Please contact us if you have questions regarding this item. Item Price
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Futility
by Gerhardie, William
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- Used - Fine
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- New Edition
- Published
- 1971
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- Hardcover
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Chicago, Illinois, USA
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A$44.90
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St. Martin's, 1971. New Edition. Hardcover. Fine. Octavo. Out of print. Binding is cloth. Item Price
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Futility
by Gerhardie, William
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- Used - Good
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- Hardback
- ISBN
- 9780356031446
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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Futility â Novel: 0718 (Revived Modern Classic) Gerhardie, W
by Gerhardie, William,
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- 9780811211765
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Harrow, Greater London, GBR
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Good. Offered by the charity Langdon supporting people with disabilities. Item Price
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Futility (Modern Classics)
by Gerhardie, William
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- Used - Acceptable
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- 9780140003918
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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Paperback. Acceptable. Item Price
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Futility
by William Gerhardie
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- Used - Good
- Published
- 2012
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- 9781612191454
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Seattle, Washington, USA
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Melville House Publishing, 2012. Paperback. Good. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed. Item Price
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Futility
by William Gerhardie
- Condition
- New
- Published
- January 1971
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- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780356031446
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Saugerties, New York, USA
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A$30.35
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TBS The Book Service Ltd, January 1971. Hardcover. New. Very clean, out of print rare copy. DJ present and fully intact. No markings. Some minor wear due to age Item Price
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Futility
by William Gerhardie
- Condition
- New
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- Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781786694805
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Uxbridge, Greater London, GBR
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A$18.34
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Paperback / softback. New. New Book; Fast Shipping from UK; Not signed; Not First Edition; Gerhardie's first comic novel tells the story of a young Englishman who returns to St Petersburg. Part British romantic comedy, part Russian social realism, this funny and poignant novel is the tale of persistance in love and hope. Item Price
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Futility: Novel (Revived Modern Classic)
by Gerhardie, William
- Condition
- Like New
- Published
- 1991-09-17
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780811211765
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Fairfax Station, Virginia, USA
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A$14.57
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New Directions, 1991-09-17. Paperback. Like New. Item Price
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Futility (Revived Modern Classic)
by William Gerhardie
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 1991-09
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780811211765
- Quantity Available
- 1
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HOUSTON, Texas, USA
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A$17.03
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New Directions Publishing Corporation, 1991-09. Paperback. Good. Item Price
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Futility (Revived Modern Classic)
by William Gerhardie
- Condition
- Used:Good
- Published
- 1991-09-01
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780811211765
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HOUSTON, Texas, USA
- Item Price
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A$30.38
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New Directions Publishing Corporation, 1991-09-01. Paperback. Used:Good. Item Price
A$30.38
Futility (Modern Classics)
by William Gerhardie
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 1974-06-27
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780140003918
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
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HOUSTON, Texas, USA
- Item Price
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A$23.12
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Penguin Books Ltd, 1974-06-27. Paperback. Good. Item Price
A$23.12
Futility: Novel (Revived Modern Classic)
by Gerhardie, William
- Condition
- New
- Published
- 1991-09-17
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780811211765
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Fairfax Station, Virginia, USA
- Item Price
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A$15.95
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New Directions, 1991-09-17. Paperback. New. Item Price
A$15.95
Futility (Revived Modern Classic)
by William Gerhardie
- Condition
- New
- Published
- 1991
- ISBN
- 9780811211765
- Quantity Available
- 1
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revere, Massachusetts, USA
- Item Price
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A$18.23
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new pb Item Price
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Futility
by William Gerhardie
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781786694805
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Southport, Merseyside, GBR
- Item Price
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A$21.38
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Paperback / softback. New. Gerhardie's first comic novel tells the story of a young Englishman who returns to St Petersburg. Part British romantic comedy, part Russian social realism, this funny and poignant novel is the tale of persistance in love and hope. Item Price
A$21.38
Futility
by William Gerhardie
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781612191454
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
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Southport, Merseyside, GBR
- Item Price
-
A$23.03
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Paperback / softback. New. Item Price
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Futility
by William Gerhardie
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 1990
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780860721123
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Morangis, FRA
- Item Price
-
A$25.00
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Robin Clark Ltd, 1990. Paperback. Good. Former library book. Slight signs of wear on the cover. Ammareal gives back up to 15% of this book's net price to charity organizations. Item Price
A$25.00