Le Carré (John) A Small Town in Germany, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "For Robin Atthill, Who (literally) taught me English, & a care for words, & an ear for language. David." on title and additionally signed by the author at head of title, scattered spotting, light browning to endpapers, original boards, dust-jacket, price-clipped, light fading to spine, rubbing to spine tips and corners, near-fine otherwise, 8vo, 1968.

⁂ An excellent association copy of Le Carré's fifth novel, inscribed to his English teacher at Sherborne. Atthill (1912-94) did much to encourage the young Le Carré's literary ambitions, culminating in the young author writing for The Shirburnian and receiving the school's English Verse Prize in 1948, for "The Dream of the Deserted Island". Association copies of any of Le Carré's works are rare.