First edition. 255 pages. Inscribed by the author to the copyright page: “To Sir Charles & Lady Snow, in sincere and heartfelt appreciation and gratitude. F. Ebejer Sept ‘58”. The recipients were fellow writers, C. P. Snow (1905-1980) and Pamela Hansford Johnson (1912-1981). The book is firmly bound in slightly rubbed and bumped black cloth, lettered in gilt to the spine. The text block is slightly marked and age toned, with some lightly creased corners, to the front endpaper is the ownership blind-stamp of a David Hopkinson. The dust jacket, with the striking illustration by Jillian Richards, is the original, it is price clipped, slightly toned, marked, rubbed and creased, with a few minor nicks and short closed tears to the edges. Already well known as a playwright, this was the Maltese author’s first published novel, a love story set in Malta against the backdrop of post-war social and political strife. The first edition is rare and this is an excellent literary association copy.