Jacques, Brian "Redwall" [Philomel Books, 1987] Signed 1st Edition

JACQUES, Brian Redwall.

New York: Philomel Books, 1987. First U.S. edition, first printing ("First impression" stated). 9.25” x 6.5”, 351pp. Illustrated by Gary Chalk. Signed by Jacques on the half-title. Publisher's red cloth-backed grey paper-covered boards titled in gilt, in the original unclipped dust jacket. Jacket with only light edgewear and a touch of rubbing at extremities; book exceptionally clean and well preserved with sharp corners, bright gilt, and no ownership markings. Near Fine in Very Good+ dust jacket.

The first American appearance of the novel that launched the long-running Redwall series and established Brian Jacques as one of the most influential writers of modern children's fantasy. Set within the fortified abbey of Redwall and populated by mice, badgers, hares, and other woodland creatures, the novel combines the structure of epic quest fantasy with richly imagined anthropomorphic characters and an unusually detailed medieval-inspired world. For many readers of the late twentieth century, Redwall served as an introduction to fantasy literature, spawning more than twenty sequels and helping define the genre for a generation.