The first edition, first impression of these posthumously published essays by J.L. Austin, late Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Oxford,— including three hitherto unpublished papers on The Meaning of a Word (1940), Unfair to Facts (1954) and Performative Utterances (c.1957).

Austin (1911-1960) is best-remembered for developing his theory of speech acts, an analytical framework which explored how words and phrases can constitute actions in and of themselves, rather than being understood as mere expressions of a proposition.

First edition, first impression; 8vo (22 x 14.5 cm); ownership inscription in pen to front free endpaper; publisher's blue cloth, spine lettered in gilt; unclipped typographic dustjacket printed in red, spine sunned and slightly soiled, a little chipped and frayed, very good; [8], 242, [2]pp.