The Malayan Trilogy
By Anthony Burgess
 
First editions, first impressions: London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1956, 1958, 1959. Each volume uniformly signed and dated by the author to the title page: 'Anthony Burgess 3/11/90'.
 
Three volumes, octavo. Original cloth, spines lettered in gilt. With the original pictorial dust jackets designed by R. F. Micklewright (vol. 1) and John Rowland (vols. 2 & 3).
 
An extremely good set. 'Time for a Tiger' with an early contemporary gift inscription, 'From Pete 1958', to the front endpaper; the other two volumes free from any names or inscriptions. The bindings remain firm with bright gilt; top edges of volumes 1 and 3 a little dusty and edges generally toned across the set; a thin strip of sunning to the bottom of the spine on volume 1 and the top of volume 3; unobtrusive knock to the bottom edge of lower board of vol 2 with mild spotting to the edges. The contents are otherwise clean and fresh.
 
The dust jackets are very good. Volume 1 is price-clipped with the top corner of the lower flap somewhat crudely removed; the spine panel is a touch faded and there is shallow chipping to the corners and spine ends; light spotting to the lower panel and verso. The jacket of volume 2 is near fine, with a few very shallow chips to the spine ends and corners, one crease to the corner of the lower flap, and a hint of marginal toning. The jacket of volume 3 is very good with a slither of loss to the spine head, a few small chips to the corners and spine foot, and a closed tear to the top edge of the upper panel; some generalised toning, primarily to the spine panel.
 
The Malayan Trilogy (later published in one volume as The Long Day Wanes) consists of 'Time for a Tiger', 'The Enemy in the Blanket', and 'Beds in the East'. It represents Burgess’s debut as a novelist and is a masterpiece of colonial literature, drawing heavily on his own experiences as a teacher and education officer in the British Colonial Service in Malaya and Brunei. Written during the twilight of the British Empire, the trilogy is celebrated for its linguistic virtuosity and its sharp, often satirical portrayal of the complex racial and social tensions during the Malayan Emergency. Burgess’s immersion in the local culture allowed him to capture a world in transition with an authenticity that few of his contemporaries matched. These works established the career of one of the 20th century’s most prolific and polymathic literary figures, who would later gain worldwide fame for 'A Clockwork Orange'. Exceedingly rare as complete signed set.