From a cursory glance I can see this book has been discussed on the forum before, so this might interest/amuse some of you. Compton Mackenzie also wrote Whisky Galore, for those who know the Ealing comedies. Anyway, having never read it I thought I'd pick up a copy from the online Oxfam shop - the choice was between a £20 paperback copy or a £7 hardback, so I chose the hardback. It turned out to be a first edition with this letter tucked in the front.