Catalog 143, D-E
75. DAVIES, Robertson; GUTHRIE, Tyrone; NEEL, Boyd. Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd. Toronto: Clarke Irwin (1955). An account of the third season of the Stratford Festival. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Illustrations by Tanya Moisewitsch.
76. DE CHARMOY, Cozette. The True Life of Sweeney Todd. (London): Gaberbocchus Press (1973). The limited edition of this collage novel, one of 220 copies, published by a small press that aimed to make the design of each book reflect of its contents. This copy out of series but inscribed by the author to noted Russian artist Raphael Soyer in 1980. An excellent association copy between two major 20th century artists of different generations, and an uncommon book from an important small press, as well. Very mild rubbing; else fine in the original acetate dust jacket, as issued.
77. DELILLO, Don. "On February 14, 1989..." (NY): (Rushdie Defense Committee USA)(1994). A flyer issued in support of Salman Rushdie on the fifth anniversary of the Iranian death edict issued against him in response to The Satanic Verses. DeLillo, himself a master of imagining the fictive individual's response to seeping cultural-political forces, asks us to imagine Rushdie's reality. One page folded to make four pages; the text is unattributed to DeLillo on the flyer, but DeLillo was named as author in a letter accompanying the initial distribution. 450,000 copies were printed but few are likely to have been preserved. The publicity effort was organized, in part, by Paul Auster. Fine.
78. DICKEY, James. The Suspect in Poetry. (Madison): Sixties Press, 1964. Short essays and reviews of poetry and poets, Dickey's first book of prose and a controversial book in which the author pulled no punches in criticizing the poets of his era. With flap copy about Dickey and the book by Robert Bly, the publisher. Signed by the author. Near fine in a good dust jacket with several small edge chips but split along the lower half of the front flap fold. With a "compliments of the publisher" card laid in.
79. DICKEY, James. Deliverance. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1970. His first novel, after a number of collections of poetry. Basis for the classic movie, one of the signature films of the 1970s. Foxing to the foredge, else fine in a near fine dust jacket with some blended dampening to the lower edge and impressions of writing on the front panel. Altogether, a nicer copy than usually appears.
80. DICKEY, James. Puella. Garden City: Doubleday, 1982. A collection of poetry. Inscribed by the author in the year of publication. Fine in a near fine, spine-faded dust jacket with several small edge tears.
81. DIDION, Joan. Salvador. NY: Simon & Schuster (1983). An extended essay on the civil war in El Salvador, the brutality of which was perfectly captured by Didion's writing, which is imbued with a pervasive sense of dread. Signed by the author. Page edge foxing; else fine in a fine dust jacket with a corner crease on the front flap.
82. -. Same title. London: Chatto & Windus/Hogarth Press (1983). The first British edition. This is the scarce hardcover issue (there was a simultaneous paperback that was more widely distributed). Fine in a fine dust jacket.
83. DILLARD, Annie. An American Childhood. NY: Harper & Row, 1987. The limited edition of this memoir by the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning classic, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. One of 250 numbered copies signed by the author. Fine in a fine slipcase.
84. DINESEN, Isak. Out of Africa. NY: Random House (1938). The first American edition of her second book, a memoir of her life in Kenya that has come to be regarded as a classic -- one of the defining autobiographies of the 20th century. Gift inscription and bookplate front flyleaf; darkening to hinges; a very good copy in a very good, price-clipped and spine-tanned dust jacket with small chips and tears to the edges; several of which have been internally tape-mended.
85. DINESEN, Isak. Ehrengard. London: Michael Joseph (1963). Small owner name front flyleaf and page edge foxing; near fine in a near fine, edge-sunned dust jacket with small edge tears.
86. DOCTOROW, E.L. Big As Life. NY: Simon & Schuster (1966). His second novel, a science fiction tale of sorts, in which two giant naked human figures appear in New York harbor, and the consequences of that appearance. Doctorow's first novel, Welcome to Hard Times, was an unusual, literary take on the genre of the Western, and this seems to have been a comparable effort to exploit some of the conventions of science fiction for literary purposes. Apparently the author, in retrospect, was displeased with the book, and he has refused to allow it to be reprinted, so this first edition is the only edition. This was the publisher's file copy, with a Simon and Schuster stamp to that effect on the front flyleaf. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. An attractive and significant copy of this uncommon book by one of the major American authors of the second half of the 20th century.
87. DOS PASSOS, John. The 42nd Parallel, 1919, The Big Money. NY: Harper & Brothers/Harcourt Brace, 1930, (1932), (1936). First editions of the three volumes of Dos Passos's "U.S.A. Trilogy," together one of the important works of American fiction of the first half of the 20th century and one of the Modern Library top 100 novels of the century. Dos Passos fused two competing literary strains in these volumes -- the social realism of the proletarian literature of the 1930s, and the convention-shattering experiments of the literary avant garde between the two wars; in doing so he created his best book, a panoramic portrait of the country and its people in those times. Three volumes, the first two of which are signed by the author and inscribed by the author, respectively. The 42nd Parallel has some fading to the top stain and wear to the spine label; near fine in a very good, price-clipped dust jacket with minor edge wear and an internally tape-mended open tear at the front spine fold. 1919 has some handling apparent to the boards; near fine in a very good, price-clipped dust jacket with small chips at the spine extremities and rubbing to the folds. The Big Money is also near fine in a very good, price-clipped dust jacket with some internal tape-mending to the several corner chips. A very nice set of one of the major works of the century, seldom found in dust jackets and even less often signed or inscribed. For the three:
88. DUBUS, Andre. Autograph Letter Signed. 1974. A 68-page holograph letter, written to Brownie Hartshorne, who was a student of Dubus' in the 70's. Titled, as though it were a story, "A First Letter for Brownie," and dated on page 1, "Monday 3 June 1974." Later pages have later dates, indicating the letter was written over the course of several days. Again, as though it were a story, Dubus begins with an epigraph, a paragraph in quotes that he identifies as being from Thomas Williams's novel, The Hair of Harold Roux, which Dubus calls the "Best book about a writer ever written..." [Harold Roux went on to win a National Book Award.] Dubus tells her that he read most of the Williams book on the plane south, on his way to visit his family and his childhood home, and explains that he is writing what will "probably be the longest letter of your life" in order to vent his feelings and avoid blowing up at those around him, as he gets increasingly exasperated at swallowing his feelings and thoughts in order to keep the peace. And vent he does, many times about his mother, who clearly stirs up the same feelings in him that she did when he was much younger. He tells Brownie that if she were there, he could have a nightcap after his mother went to bed, and talk about all this, and then be able to write fiction the next morning; but as it is, she is not here and it recalls his earlier life: "No one ever was, through all the years of my boyhood. No wonder I went to my room and in that silence listened to my soul verifying itself and I started to write stories..." A remarkable letter, longer than most of his short fiction and filled with reflection, family history, and passion of every stripe. Unlike anything we have seen of Dubus's, including his short story and essay manuscripts; this is more like an uncensored journal or diary, practically stream of consciousness at times, and filled with the particulars of his daily life on this visit "home," as well as a clear sense of how different his "new home" is for him. Handwritten on both sides of 34 pages of white lined paper and signed, "Love, Andre." Near fine. With hand-addressed mailing envelope included. A unique document by one of our best, and best-loved fiction writers, by most accounts a worthy heir to Chekhov in the realm of short stories.
89. DUBUS, Andre. Finding a Girl in America. Boston: Godine (1977). His third collection of short fiction, comprising ten stories and a novella. The title story was one of the three that formed the basis for the movie "We Don't Live Here Anymore" and the included story "Killings" formed the basis for the movie "In the Bedroom"; both were acclaimed independent films, released after Dubus's death. Fine in a very near fine dust jacket with trace wear to the spine base and one tiny spot at the bottom edge of the rear panel.
90. -. Another copy. Foxing to top edge; else fine in a near fine dust jacket.
91. DUBUS, Andre. Voices From the Moon. Boston: Godine (1984). His only novella to be published on its own, outside of a collection. Billed as "a novel" for marketing purposes, but comprising fewer than 125 small pages with wide margins. Signed by the author. Spotting to spine cloth; else fine in a near fine dust jacket, also with faint spotting to spine.
92. DUNNING, John. Tune in Yesterday. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall (1976). Dunning's second book, "The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, 1925-1976," the definitive volume on the subject and preceding any of his Cliff Janeway novels, for which he earned popular and critical acclaim, by nearly 20 years. Small owner name front flyleaf; else fine in a very good dust jacket with one shallow edge chip.
93. DUNNING, John. The Bookman's Wake. NY: Scribner (1995). The second Cliff Janeway bibliomystery. Signed by the author in the month before publication. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
94. -. Another copy, this being a review copy, with a publicity letter to booksellers laid in. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
95. -. Same title. The first issue of the advance reading copy, with the matte finish and wraparound jacket illustration. Reportedly a number of these were stolen from the publisher prior to their being issued, so a second advance reading copy had to be printed. Fine in wrappers.
96. -. Same title. The later issue advance reading copy, in glossy wrappers, with text and an author photo on the rear cover. Signed by the author. Fine in wrappers.
97. DUNNING, John. Two O'Clock, Eastern Wartime. NY: Scribner (2001). A bestselling historical novel of World War II, which utilizes the author's extensive knowledge of "old-time radio" as a significant factor in the plot. Signed by the author in the month of publication. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
98. -. Same title. The advance reading copy. Fine in wrappers.
99. DUNNING, John. The Bookman's Promise. NY: Scribner (2004). The third book in Cliff Janeway series of bibliomysteries. Signed by the author in the month prior to publication. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
100. DUNNING, John. The Sign of the Book. NY: Scribner (2005). The fourth Cliff Janeway bibliomystery. Signed by the author in the month prior to publication. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
101. DUNNING, John. The Bookwoman's Last Fling. NY: Scribner (2006). Signed by the author on the title page in the year of publication. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
102. -. Another copy. Signed by the author on a tipped-in leaf. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
103. DURRELL, Lawrence. Tunc. London: Faber & Faber (1968). The first book he published after the Alexandria Quartet; this is itself part of a two-book sequence, concluded with Nunquam, together comprising "The Revolt of Aphrodite." Page edge foxing; else fine in a very near fine dust jacket with a near fine "Book Society Choice" wraparound band. A nice copy.
104. (DYLAN, Bob). GRAY, Michael. The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia. NY: Continuum (2006). A massive volume, over 730 double-columned pages in encyclopedia-format, i.e., with alphabetized individual entries for hundreds, if not thousands, of people and items. Gray is a critic and the author of Song & Dance Man #3: The Art of Bob Dylan, for which he did a lot of the research that is reflected, and reorganized, in this book. Now that it exists, it's remarkable that such a book has not existed until now; a fine copy without dust jacket, as issued. Signed by Gray. CD-ROM included, with the text of the book in a searchable PDF format.
105. EGAN, Jennifer. You (Plural). NY: Lenox Hill Bookstore, 2004. One of 250 copies of this story by the author of The Invisible Circus and, more recently, The Keep, among others. An attractive chapbook, printed by the Stinehour Press. Signed by the author. Fine in stapled wrappers.
106. EGGERS, Dave. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. NY: Simon & Schuster (2000). His first book, at the least an affecting work of uncommon brilliance, about raising his younger brother after his parents died in unrelated events a month apart. With an early (initials only), Eggeresque inscription: "Hello. It is hard enough. D.E." Fine in a fine dust jacket.
107. EGGERS, Dave. "THOMAS, Lucy." Jokes Told in Heaven About Babies. (n.p.): McSweeney's (2003). A pseudonymous collection of short pieces, complete with a fictional author biography and a list of "Future books by this author," parodying the format of conventional book publication. Illustrated by Carlos de la Naranja. Signed by Eggers. Fine in wrappers.
108. EHRLICH, Gretel. Geode/Rock Body. Santa Barbara: Capricorn Press, 1970. The first book by the author of The Solace of Open Spaces and Heart Mountain, among others, a collection of poems. This is one of 550 copies of the issue in wrappers, of a total edition of 600 copies. Inscribed by the author in 1992. Mild edge-sunning; else fine. An uncommon first book.
109. EHRLICH, Gretel. The Solace of Open Spaces. (NY): Viking (1985). Her first book of prose, a collection of related essays on the contemporary West and the natural world, in particular the author's adopted home state of Wyoming. A contemporary classic of the literature of place, and winner of a major award for nonfiction from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Blurbs by Edward Abbey, Ivan Doig, Annie Dillard, Edward Hoagland and Tracy Kidder, a virtual pantheon of literary nonfiction writers. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
110. EHRLICH, Gretel. Arctic Heart. Santa Barbara: Capra Press (1992). A poetry cycle written after Ehrlich had visited the Canadian Arctic in 1991. Illustrated by David Buckland. Only issued in wrappers. This copy is signed by the author. Slight rubbing along the edges and folds; near fine.
111. EHRLICH, Gretel. Life in the Saddle. San Diego: Harcourt Brace (1995). A limited edition, one of 500 copies, edited and introduced by Ehrlich. Contributors include Ivan Doig, William Kittredge and Thomas McGuane, among others. Unnumbered, this copy is signed by Ehrlich. Fine in a fine dust jacket. A surprisingly uncommon book.
112. ELKIN, Stanley. A Bad Man. NY: Random House (1967). The advance reading copy of Elkin's third book, second novel. Elkin was an enormously influential writer, and one who didn't fall easily into any of the "camps" of 20th century literature: while associated with the avant garde and postmodern writers like William Gaddis and William Gass, he was also cited by John Gardner as an example of a writer of "moral fiction" -- a category usually associated with the realistic school of writing in 20th century American literature. Elkin taught at Washington University in St. Louis for many years, and influenced a generation of writers as a teacher as well. He won the National Book Award in 1982, and the National Book Critics Circle Award in 1995, the year he died. This copy is near fine in wrappers and signed by the author. A somewhat uncommon advance issue from the 1960s, but especially scarce signed: Elkin suffered from multiple sclerosis most of his adult life, and did not sign books often.