The Given Day by Robert van Gulik

VAN GULIK, Robert. The Given Day: An Amsterdam Mystery. Kuala Lumpur, Art Printing Works, 1964.

First edition, very scarce, of Van Gulik’s only murder mystery with a modern-day setting.

‘I walk down the curved bridge, muttering a curse as I nearly lose my footing on the slippery cobblestones. Peering through the drizzle I see a reddish glow over a door farther down the street: the sign of a bar…’.

Set in 1960s Amsterdam, The Given Day unfolds over the course of just twenty hours, spanning from 28 to 29 February, during which the lives of several individuals are profoundly impacted.

Robert van Gulik was a Dutch orientalist and diplomat, best known for his Judge Dee series.

Octavo, pp. 132, with 7 blueprints designed by the author; very good; original card wrappers, covers white printed in grey, red, blue and black, spine blue lettered in white (covers slightly soiled, spine creased with tiny abrasion).