The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

" I shall not from you you big bear, take any of your semantic battering in this Buttery."

- J.P. Donleavy from The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

Photo courtesy The J.P. Donleavy Archives.

First book in a trilogy (Donleavy mentions wanting to write a fourth book in the series). Followed at this time by Leila: Further in the Life and Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman and That Darcy, That Dancer, That Gentleman. In an interview, Donleavy states that it is the Darcy Dancer books that the locals who live near him in Ireland read and not The Ginger Man, that he's been greeted at times by someone shouting out, "How's that Darcy Dancer?"

JPD ready for the hunt. Or perhaps ready for a photo shoot and then some writing or painting while the others stumble through the bogs. Photo courtesy The J.P. Donleavy Archives.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

Leather | Franklin Library, Franklin Center, PA, 1977 - 436 pages

Limited first edition (number not stated) with special introduction by Donleavy not found in other editions. Gilt edges and ribbon place holder.

The art of "sabrage," opening a champagne bottle with a sabre (as performed by The Mental Marquis in the Darcy Dancer books), dates back to Napoleonic times and is still practiced today.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

Cloth | Delacorte Press, New York, 1977 - ISBN 0440019036 - 402 pages

First trade edition. Light green boards with gold foil-stamped signature on front cover and title on spine.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

Cloth | Delacorte Press, New York, 1977 - ISBN 0440019036 - 402 pages

2nd Delacorte printing, dated 1977 on front end paper with no month given. Identical in appearance to the first printing: same dust jacket and light green boards with gold foil-stamped signature on front cover and title on spine.

To purchase books by J.P. Donleavy, go to the Buyers' Guide.

De dwaalwegen van Darcy Dancer, heervanstand

Wraps | Meulenhoff, Amsterdam, 1977 - ISBN 9029013125 - 444 pages

Dutch translation.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

Cloth | Allen Lane (an imprint of the Penguin Group), London, 1978 ISBN 0713910720 - 414 pages

First UK edition.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

Cloth | Delacorte Press, New York, 1978 - ISBN 0440019036 - 402 pages

3rd printing of Delacorte Press hardcover edition. Dust jacket is identical to first and 2nd printings, but boards are darker green and bear no foil-stamped reproduction of Donleavy's signature on front cover.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

Wraps | Delta (an imprint of Dell), New York, September, 1978 - ISBN 0440520290 - 402 pages

First US trade paperback edition.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

Wraps | Delta (an imprint of Dell), New York, November, 1978 - ISBN 0440520290 - 402 pages

2nd Delta printing.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

Wraps | Penguin, Middlesex, England, 1978 - ISBN 0140049002 - 414 pages

First Penguin printing. First UK paperback edition.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

Wraps | Dell, New York, October, 1979 - ISBN 0440120292 - 380 pages

First Dell printing.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

Wraps | Penguin, Middlesex, England, 1979 - ISBN 0140049002 - 414 pages

2nd Penguin printing.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

Wraps | Penguin, Middlesex, England, 1979 - ISBN 0140049002 - 414 pages

3rd Penguin printing. Penguin states that this title was reprinted twice in 1979 but no months are given.

De dwaalwegen van Darcy Dancer, heervanstand

Wraps | Meulenhoff, Amsterdam, 1980 - ISBN 9029013125 - 444 pages

Dutch translation. 2nd printing.

Le destin de Darcy Dancer, gentleman

Wraps | Editions Denoël, Paris, 1982 - 400 pages

French translation.

Le destin de Darcy Dancer, gentleman

Wraps | Denoël, Paris, 1983

French translation. Paperback with stiff, glossy dust jacket.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

Wraps | Penguin, Middlesex, England, 1984 - ISBN 0140049002 - 414 pages

4th Penguin printing.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

Wraps | Penguin, Middlesex, England, 1985 - ISBN 0140049002 - 414 pages

5th Penguin printing.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

Wraps | Penguin, Middlesex, England, 1988 - ISBN 0140049002 - 414 pages

6th Penguin printing.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

Wraps | Atlantic Monthly Press (now Grove/Atlantic), New York, Feb., 1990 - ISBN 0871132893 - 414 pages

First AMP printing.

Le destin de Darcy Dancer, gentleman

Stiff wraps | U.G.E. (10 X 18) Paris,October 1, 1995 | ISBN 2264001542 - 512 pages

French translation.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

Wraps | Atlantic Monthly Press (now Grove/Atlantic), New York, 1996 - ISBN 0871132893 - 414 pages

2nd AMP printing.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

Wraps | Atlantic Monthly Press (now Grove/Atlantic), New York, 1998 - ISBN 0871132893 - 414 pages

3rd AMP printing.

The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

Wraps | Atlantic Monthly Press (now Grove/Atlantic), New York, 2003 - ISBN 0871132893 - 414 pages

4th AMP printing.

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