Voss ( Heavy edgewear, top edge of inside front endpaper is torn out - presumably had a previous owners name) N° de ref.A lot of 6 vintage paperbacks ( all Penguins, from various eras and slighly differing cover designs) ALL WITH HEAVY SPINE FADE/ SUNNING - especially so on The Living and the Dead. However, White's literary executor, Barbara Mobbs, said he had left behind 'no written evidence' that he would disapprove of a posthumous award and that she was 'not going to run around saying take him out' Ref TT6. Tobias Hill said Patrick White, noted for requesting that his name be struck off the 1979 Man Booker prize shortlist and known for his general disapproval of receiving awards, would be 'spinning in his grave' if he had won the Lost Man Booker Prize for The Vivisector. I think it is one of White's, I think it's White's great autobiography to be honest.' The Lost Man Booker Prize was a special edition of the Man Booker Prize awarded by a public vote in 2010 to a novel from 1970 as the books published in 1970 were not eligible for the Man Booker Prize due to a rules alteration until 1970 the prize was awarded to books published in the previous year, while from 1971 onwards it was awarded to books published the same year as the award. Other literary critics have interpreted the novel as being largely autobiographical, with Australian literary critic Geordie Williamson noting that 'The Vivisector is a great Australian novel.

While the novel was dedicated to painter Sidney Nolan, White denied any connection between Hurtle Duffield, the novel's central character, and Nolan or any other painter. The longest of White's novels, The Vivisector was written in 1968. Named for its sometimes cruel analysis of Duffield and the major figures in his life, the book explores universal themes like the suffering of the artist, the need for truth and the meaning of existence. First published in 1970, it details the lifelong creative journey of fictional artist/painter Hurtle Duffield. The Vivisector is the eighth published novel by Patrick White. This is one of two variant bindings recorded which differ in size This copy is 6cms thick.

Bound in pale green card covers with Cape logos this very rare copy appears unread.

The vivisector