The Ponsonby post

by Bernice Rubens

First edition hard cover, with unclipped dust jacket, both in very good condition. Jacket illustration by Alun Hood, colours true. From the collection of Ian Angus, former librarian at King's College, London, and deputy librarian at University College, London. Ownership pencilled to FEP. General shelfwear, including tanning to jacket and pageblock, this leading into page edges. Minor fading to board edges, otherwise in fine condition. Within, pages are tightly bound, content unmarked. CN

Genres: Fiction

186 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1986

About the author

Bernice Rubens was born in Cardiff, Wales in July 1928. She began writing at the age of 35, when her children started nursery school. Her second novel, Madame Sousatzka (1962), was filmed by John Schlesinger filmed with Shirley MacLaine in the leading role in 1988. Her fourth novel, The Elected Member, won the 1970 Booker prize. She was shortlisted for the same prize again in 1978 for A Five Year Sentence. Her last novel, The Sergeants’ Tale, was published in 2003. She was an honorary vice-president of International PEN and served as a Booker judge in 1986. Bernice Rubens died in 2004 aged 76.

Reviews

[John Newcomb · Rating 3 out of 5]

The European do gooders in Java, do not quite see themselves in the same way as the locals. A 10 year old shoe shine boy is the keeper of all the secrets. Meanwhile murder and mayhem, faux kidnapping, sex and drugs and alcohol add a little interest to the aid workers.