Nothing but the Night

London: Jonathan Cape, 1968.

First Edition. Original turquoise hardback with bright gilt lettering to the spine. With the extremely bright and sharp dust-jacket, not price-clipped, just a feint creases across the front of the jacket and the mildest toning to the backstrip. Top edge dyed blue. Without old inscriptions etc. A fine copy. John Blackburn (1923-93) was the second son of a north country clergyman, though born in the Northamptonshire village of Corbridge. He was educated at Haileybury College And Durham University before serving as a merchant seaman during World War II. Set on the the island of Bala, off the west coast of Scotland,Mary, the daughter of triple murderess Anna Harb, suffers horrifying nightmares, and psychiatrist Peter Haynes believes she is mentally ill. Is it schizophrenia or is there another explanation for the strange and vivid images she sees: memories of a past life, psychic possession, or psychological trauma from her lunatic mother's attempts to give her occult powers?