Martyn Goff was an influential figure in the UK book trade, originally as a bookseller and later as the director of the National Book League and administrator, for 34 years, of the Booker Prize.

Goff’s own literary career of nine novels included this story of Leonard Bissel, the titular youngest director, whose relationship with his boyfriend is as important to him as marriage is to his straight colleagues. The publication of this novel encouraged a young man, Rubio Lindroos, to write to Goff and the two became lovers; the copy on display is inscribed from Goff to Lindroos.