Didion’s third novel, A Book of Common Prayer is the story of two American women in Boca Grande and Central America, respectively, focused on the themes of absolute power, violence rooted in poverty, and the dichotomy between purity and corruption. It is a stunning novel that deserves more readers, and a favourite of ours at The Second Shelf.

Simon and Schuster, 1977. First edition. Hardback, 269 pp. 22 x 14.5 cm. Black quarter cloth with black boards, with red decoration and gilt lettering to spine, slight fading on bottom edge front cover. Very good book in very good dust jacket. Advance copy publisher’s slip laid in with typed title.