Laffont, 1971 cover
Cover of the Laffont, 1971 edition of this book. The Weidenfeld & Nicolson 1972 jacket has not been photographed yet.
Identification points are listed only where two independent sources agree. Last reviewed 28 Oct 2026.
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The book first appeared in French (Robert Laffont, Paris, 1971). English editions followed in 1972 from Weidenfeld and Nicolson in London and Simon and Schuster in New York. The London issue is a hardback of 637 pages with the bibliography at pp. 595 to 604, ISBN 0 297 99459 X, and dealers describe it in a pictorial dust jacket. Open Library also records a History Book Club issue from London in 1972 of the same length, so confirm that Weidenfeld and Nicolson, not the book club, is named on the title page.
A Weidenfeld & Nicolson first edition carries either a "First published in (year)" line on the copyright page or no edition statement at all. Later printings are noted on the copyright page.
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The cover image shows this book but may not be this edition or printing.
Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, in 1972, in hardback.
Points of issue are listed only where at least two independent sources agree. Last reviewed 28 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.
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