NY, Farrar Straus Giroux, (1972). Inscribed by Barthelme to John Barth and his wife: "For Jack and Shelly with all best/ Don." With Barth's ownership signature ("Barth") written in the upper corner. In 1972, Barthelme won the National Book Award for his children's book The Slightly Irregular Fire Engine; Barth won the National Book Award the next year for his 1972 novel Chimera; both authors taught at Boston University for a time, and the two were linked for years in the 1960s and 70s as two of the foremost exponents of a new American fiction -- post-modern and playful, taking cues from Borges and other experimental writers from around the world, in opposition to the sturdy realism of most of the acclaimed American literature of the 20th century up to that point. Small penciled checks to contents page (although "The Sandman" gets an "x"). Minor fading to top stain and crown, else fine in a very near fine dust jacket with slight creasing to the top edge and the front flap. From the library of John Barth. An exceptional association copy. [#029571] SOLD