The Damned UTD
London: Faber and Faber, 2006. First U.K. Edition, First Printing. 8vo, soft cover; 8 1/2 x 5 1/4 inches (213 x 135 mm); with unclipped dust jacket, protected in mylar sleeve.
First edition, first printing with full number line. Signed by the author on the title page. Copies of reviews loosely inserted.
The novel is a fictionalized account of the turbulent 44 days in 1974 when outspoken football manager Brian Clough takes charge of Leeds United, the reigning champions he has long publicly despised. Told largely from Clough’s intense, unreliable perspective, the story intercuts his disastrous spell at Leeds with flashbacks to his earlier triumphs at Derby County. As Clough struggles to win over a hostile dressing room still loyal to former manager Don Revie, his confidence spirals into obsession, paranoia, and self-destruction.
It’s a dark, psychological portrait of ambition, rivalry, and a brilliant manager undone by pride.
A screen adaptation of the novel starring Michael Sheen as Brian Clough was released in 2009 to critical acclaim.
David Peace (born 1967) is an English writer. Best known for his UK-set novels Red Riding Quartet (1999–2002), GB84 (2004), The Damned Utd (2006), and Red or Dead (2013), Peace was named one of the Best of Young British Novelists by Granta in their 2003 list. His books often deal with themes of mental breakdown or derangement in the face of extreme circumstances. In an interview with David Mitchell, he stated: "I was drawn to writing about individuals and societies in moments that are often extreme, and often at times of defeat, be they personal or broader, or both. I believe that in such moments, during such times, in how we react and how we live, we learn who we truly are, for better or worse." [The Guardian. 23 March 2018].
Condition: Fine / Fine.
Item number: 2306
ISBN: 0571224261
Price: $200.00
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