Doris Lessing's new novel - which she defines as 'inner space fiction' - is an incomparably exciting voyage into the the marvellous, terrifying, unexplored, yet sometimes glimpsed territory of the inner man. Professor Charles Watkins (Classics), doomed to spin endlessly in the currents of the Atlantic, makes a landfall at last on a tropical shore. He discovers a ruined stone city, participates - moon-dazed - in bloody rituals in the paradisical forest, witnesses the savage war of the Rat-dogs and is borne on the back of ...
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Doris Lessing's new novel - which she defines as 'inner space fiction' - is an incomparably exciting voyage into the the marvellous, terrifying, unexplored, yet sometimes glimpsed territory of the inner man. Professor Charles Watkins (Classics), doomed to spin endlessly in the currents of the Atlantic, makes a landfall at last on a tropical shore. He discovers a ruined stone city, participates - moon-dazed - in bloody rituals in the paradisical forest, witnesses the savage war of the Rat-dogs and is borne on the back of the lordly White Bird across the sea of the dead. Finally, the Crystal claims him, whirling him out into space on a breathtaking cosmic journey. Yet this most exotic of trips is firmly rootedin the reality of a mental breakdown as De Quincey's fantasies were in the chemistry of opium. Watkins is a patient of Central Intake Hosptial, an enigma to the doctors who try with ever more powerful drugs to subdue his mind's adventure, a candidate for electric shock treatment. In a series of extraordinary letters - brilliantly illuminating both on the writers and their subject - Watkins is reconstructed by those who have know him: the forgotten women who have loved him; the pedant, incensed by his intellectual anarchy; the wartime colleague around whose exploits with the Yugoslavian partisans Watkins builds an astonishing fantasy. Doris Lessing believes that society's treatment of the mentally ill is civilisation's biggest and blackest blind spot, and that it is through the minds of the 'broken-down' that truths we choose to shut out enter like the disguised messengers in myths and fairy tales. Developing themes central to The Golden Notebook and The Four Gated City, this book is her most astounding imaginative achievement - a rare work which explores new areas of thought.
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Add this copy of Briefing for a Descent Into Hell: a Brilliant to cart. $5.39, good condition, Sold by SELL BOOKS LTD rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from London, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2002 by Flamingo.
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Seller's Description:
Our good condition books are generally good for reading but not for gifting or collecting. They could have imperfections such as creasing, fanning, inscriptions, margin notes, yellowing, staining on edge or cover or pages, bumps, scuffs, etc etc (sometimes multiple of these). It's a wide category that encompasses anything that isn't almost-new down to anything that is slightly better than poor. We would NOT recommend gifting Good books-these should be considered reading copies. Our books ar.
Add this copy of Briefing for a Descent Into Hell to cart. $6.66, good condition, Sold by M Godding Books Ltd rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Devizes, WILTS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1973 by Panther.
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Good. Size: 17 to 19 cm tall (12mo); Published by Panther. Posted within 1 working day. Royal Mail Tracked 24 to UK. Tracked Airmail worldwide. Robust recyclable packaging. Picture is the actual item.
Add this copy of Briefing for a Descent Into Hell to cart. $9.94, good condition, Sold by Anybook rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Lincoln, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1989 by Grafton Books.
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This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has soft covers. Clean from markings. In good all round condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 250grams, ISBN: 9780586038178.
Add this copy of Briefing for a Descent Into Hell / Doris Lessing to cart. $14.14, very good condition, Sold by MW Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Galway, G, IRELAND, published 1973 by [St Albans]: Panther.
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Physical description; 252 p.; 18 cm. Subjects; English fiction 1945-1999 texts. Science fiction, English. Science fiction Women authors. fiction in english, 1900 texts. Near fine paperback copy; edges very slightly dulled. Remains particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered.
Add this copy of Briefing for a Descent Into Hell to cart. $4.06, good condition, Sold by Kennys.ie rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Galway, IRELAND.
Add this copy of Briefing for a Descent Into Hell to cart. $5.30, very good condition, Sold by The Guru Bookshop rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hereford, WALES, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1973 by Triad Books.
Add this copy of Briefing for a Descent into Hell to cart. $5.35, good condition, Sold by Hay-on-Wye Booksellers rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hereford, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1973 by Triad Books.
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Good. Cover has been laminated. A few scratches and slight shelf wear on cover. Also a name and date has been handwritten on inside of front cover. Content is fine. 256 p.
Add this copy of Briefing for a Descent into Hell to cart. $9.15, good condition, Sold by Hay-on-Wye Booksellers rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hereford, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1991 by Jonathan Cape.
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Good. Light scuffs & scratches to the jacket, wear & nicks to the edges. Light wear & bumps to the board edges & corners. Leaning spine. Lightly tanned textblock, darker at the edges with foxing to the outer pages. Content is in good, clean condition. 256 p.
Add this copy of Briefing for a Descent Into Hell to cart. $15.21, new condition, Sold by Booksplease rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Southport, MERSEYSIDE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1995 by Flamingo.
Add this copy of Briefing for a Descent Into Hell to cart. $22.54, good condition, Sold by Kennys.ie rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Galway, IRELAND.
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Good. 1972. Paperback. Good copy with some shelf wear. Light nicks and creases. Lightly foxed, remains very good. First edition copy.....We ship daily from our Bookshop.
