Under the Net
By Iris Murdoch
 
First edition, first impression: London: Chatto & Windus, 1954.
 
Octavo. Original light green cloth, spine lettered and ruled in gilt. With the original pictorial dust jacket designed by Victor Ross, priced 12s 6d net at foot of front flap.
 
A very good copy: cloth clean and bright, with some toning and spots to fore-edge; previous owner name and date to front endpaper and a Foyles retailer sticker to bottom corner of front paste-down. Contents are otherwise nice and clean.
 
In the very good original dust jacket, showing mild edge-wear, a couple of chips to corners and a chip with associated tear at head of spine. Some of the usual gentle fading to the spine panel, and, far more marginally, to upper flap. Otherwise complete and unclipped.
 
Iris Murdoch’s first novel, and among the most notable literary debuts of post-war Britain. Under the Net introduced Murdoch’s characteristic fusion of philosophical inquiry and comic narrative, and was awarded the Somerset Maugham Award in 1955. First editions in original cloth and an unrestored, price-intact first-issue dust jacket are increasingly uncommon, particularly in presentable condition.