Billy Liar by Keith Waterhouse

Billy Liar by Keith Waterhouse is a landmark of post-war British fiction, presented here in the distinctive 2010 Penguin Decades edition, with a new introduction by Blake Morrison and specially designed cover artwork by renowned British Pop artist Peter Blake.

Originally published in 1959, Billy Liar follows Billy Fisher, a young Yorkshireman caught between the restrictions of small-town working-class life and the elaborate fantasy world he has created for himself. Billy is an habitual liar, juggling relationships with three girlfriends while dreaming of escaping his mundane job, family expectations and provincial surroundings. His greatest refuge is Ambrosia, an imaginary country in which his fantasies of importance, adventure and success can flourish unhindered.

Funny, sharply observed and tinged with melancholy, Billy Liar became one of the defining novels of post-war British literature. Waterhouse combines social observation, comedy and psychological insight to explore ambition, escapism, relationships and the gulf between fantasy and reality.

This edition forms part of the Penguin Decades collection, issued in celebration of seventy-five years of Penguin Books. The series brought together novels that helped define modern Britain, with Billy Liar representing the 1950s. Particularly appealing to collectors is the cover designed by Peter Blake, one of the leading figures of British Pop Art and the artist closely associated with the iconic cover of the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Condition – Near Fine

Near Fine 2010 paperback. The covers remain bright and attractive with only minor signs of handling. The top edge of the text block is dust stained and foxing is present. Otherwise a clean, well-preserved and presentable copy