First edition, first issue, signed by the author ‘Graham Swift’ on the title-page. Last Orders is a narrative tracing the journey of four men from Bermondsey to Margate to scatter the ashes of London butcher Jack Dobbs into the sea. Considered one of Swift’s most important novels, the personal histories of Dobbs and his fellow travellers are gradually uncovered in the course of their journey from London to the coast. Last Orders was published in spring 1996, and was both the winner of the Booker Prize and joint winner of the James Tait Black Prize for Fiction in that year. A film of the novel was produced in 2001, directed by Fred Schepisi and starring Michael Caine, Tom Courtenay, Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren, Ray Winstone, and others. ¶¶

This signed copy is from the library of the stage and television actor Robert Demeger, who appeared in numerous productions at the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company, and many of the best-known British television series of his era. Described by his obituarist Alan Strachan as ‘always impressively well read’ (Independent, 20 October 2014), Demeger purchased this copy in the year of publication, and it is the first issue of the first edition (with the complete impression line on the verso of the title-page). It is in the first issue dustwrapper with ‘Praise for Graham Swift’ (later replaced by reviews) on the lower panel, and no mention of the Booker Prize. ¶¶

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