Collector's Note: Scarce true first UK printing issued by This copy contains the uncorrected, first-state text exactly as originally written prior to the high-profile $2 million defamation lawsuit filed by the real-life Turcotte family. Following a strict legal settlement, all subsequent editions were heavily altered-”changing the classification from "Memoir" to a general "book", inserting a formal apology, and adding a mandatory disclaimer noting that the family's recollections differed from the author's. Presenting the full print line 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2, this is a highly desirable copy for modern literary collectors in superior condition.
Book Condition
Overall: Very Good+.
Binding: Exceptionally tight, square, and unread.
Boards: Crisp, clean cloth with sharp corners.
Spine: Lettering remains perfectly bright; sharp ends with no notable pulling.
Pages: Clean, bright, and fresh text block.
Edges: Only very light natural toning; completely free of foxing or spotting.
Markings: Strict collector quality; no previous owner signatures, bookplates, or remainder marks.
Dust Jacket Condition
Overall: Near Fine.
Price: Unclipped (£14.99 original price intact).
Exterior: Beautifully clean with crisp, vibrant colours; absolutely no fading to the spine.
Wear: Trivial rubbing to the extremest edges, otherwise sharp and fresh.
Flaws: Excellent preservation; no tears, chips, or creases. Broadart/Mylar protected.
Publisher/Printing Details
Publisher: Atlantic Books (London).
Full print line: 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2.
True first UK hardback printing.
Summary
Running with Scissors is a darkly comedic memoir that chronicles Augusten Burroughs' bizarre and chaotic upbringing after his unstable mother sends him to live with her eccentric, unorthodox psychiatrist. Raised in a dilapidated, boundary-free household alongside the doctor's equally dysfunctional family, Burroughs navigates an unregulated world of psychiatric drugs, adult relationships, and extreme neglect. Left entirely to his own devices without formal schooling, he must learn to survive a surreal, wild adolescence while fighting to discover his own identity amidst the madness.
