First edition, first printing. 260pp. In blue cloth-covered boards with silver titles on the spine. 8vo. Cloth very slightly rubbed on corners and spine ends. A little faint spotting on endpapers else neat, clean, bright and tight throughout. In its original illustrated dust wrapper, price-clipped, a little shelf worn and a tad bumped on extreme edges.
A remarkable exploration of Japanese culture from a talented writer, Morley projects his own experiences in Japan, and with its language, onto a fictional young man, Boon. Water Trade is the translation of a Japanese term for places of pleasure - be that alcoholic or sexual.
