Black Sheep
Black Sheep
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Book Notes: Cover shows minor wear. Binding is tight. Pages is clean and intact.
Author(s): Christopher Simon Sykes
Publication year: 1982
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Viking Press
ISBN:This biographical social history delivers a candid, chronological look into the hidden scandals, eccentricities, and financial ruin of Britain's most notorious aristocratic misfits. Spanning several centuries of high society, the narrative tracks a diverse roster of titled rebels, gamblers, spendthrifts, and social outcasts who willfully broke away from rigid family expectations and upper-class decorum. Rather than offering a dry genealogical timeline or a flattering tribute to nobility, the text utilizes a wealth of private family letters, diary entries, and estate records to examine the psychological and economic realities of privilege gone wrong. The chapters reconstruct bizarre cases of inheritance battles, high-stakes gambling debts, secret marriages, and self-imposed exiles, showing how families frequently scrambled to conceal these embarrassing figures from the public eye. It functions as an unvarnished, highly entertaining historical archive that strips away the polished mythology of the British class system to expose the human vulnerabilities and structural friction underlying great wealth.
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Book Condition Scale
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Like New
This book is in excellent condition and appears to have been read only once. The pages are clean and unmarked, with no creases or stains. The binding remains firm and tight. There may be minimal signs of shelf wear on the cover or dust jacket, but overall, the book looks and feels nearly new.
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Very Good
This book has been read but remains in great condition. It does not look new, yet there is no obvious damage to the cover. Wear and tear are minimal. The pages are clean, free of highlighting or notes, though it may contain identifying marks from a previous owner or bookstore.
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Good
This book shows moderate to heavy signs of wear that can include creases, stains or tears. The cover may have minimal damage, and the binding remains intact with slight wear. The majority of pages are undamaged, though there may be some highlighting, underlining, or notes. It may also contain identifying marks from a previous owner or bookstore.
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Acceptable
This book shows significant wear, which may include tears, large stains, creases, loose pages, and heavy notes, underlining, or highlighting. The binding may be loose but remains intact. While it has noticeable imperfections, it is still a complete and readable copy. Any major defects will be clearly noted in the listing.
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As Described
This book is visibly worn and may be heavily soiled, scuffed, stained, or spotted. It may have loose joints, hinges, or pages, and some text or pages may be missing. Large tears and other significant defects may be present. While still a readable copy, it shows substantial signs of use. Any major flaws will be clearly noted in the listing.
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Dust Jacket Grading
(A) Excellent
The dust jacket is in excellent condition, may show the slightest signs of shelf wear, if any.(B) Good
Shows minor shelf wear, usually along edges and may have a few light stains.(C) Fair
Displays moderate shelf wear, including some noticeable small tears, creasing and/or stains.(D) Poor
Contains large tears, several creases, and/or heavy staining.(F) As Is
Shows significant wear and tear. Majority of dust jacket is torn or missing. May contain heavy staining.
