A kind neighbour came round the other night to get both my books signed for her father. As soon as I picked up the Villiers book and felt the remnants of a label on the back, I knew that this copy had passed through the hands of the US distributor, with a $42.95 label on its back.
And when I opened it, I found it had been in my hands too. And I could tell from the way I’d signed it that Richard must have been a Bond fan.
Now, among the 340m people in the US, at least a few must be 007 aficionados named Richard, so I don’t suppose I’m ever going to learn the full story of this much-travelled book, or how it made its way back to the UK.
But I am confident it’s gone to a good home now.