The Green Helmet (Fontana Books, No. 310)

Movie tie-in edition. 253, [3]pp.  Illustrated stiff card covers.  12mo.  Covers worn and a little faded, rubbed at edges, rounded on corners and creased along spine, a little cocked.  Traces of dustiness to text block edges; and page margins a little toned else internally neat, clean and tight.

Not a pretty copy but perfectly servable for reading/reference as it is complete and firmly bound, and the covers featuring classic, mid-century pulp artwork, remain striking and evocative.

An 1957 sports drama novel from the popular and prolific Australian novelist Jon Clearly.  Although not hard to find, it was an international best seller, and remarkable for Clearly wrote it in just 20 days after an unusual request from his London publishes.  He had written a political novel but it made his publishers nervous as they feared it would ot appeal broadly: they suggested a motoring racing novel instead.  It was filmed 1961, with Clearly writing th screenplay for the movie starring Bill Travers and iconic British comedy star, Sid James.  For motor sport enthusiasts, it remains a cult classic, with Jack Brabham, former F! champion, appearing as himself in the film.