Catalog 128, D
75. DOCTOROW, E.L. Welcome to Hard Times. NY: Simon & Schuster, 1960. The scarce first book by an author who has won every major literary award in this country and whose multi-volume fictionalized history of New York City is one of the most ambitious and successful ongoing literary achievements of our time. Inscribed by the author in 1962 to "Mad Nick Meglin," editor of Mad magazine and signed "Alfred E. Ne [crossed out]/ E.L. Doctorow." Pages darkening with age, as usual -- according to a note from Doctorow dating from the mid-Sixties, copies of this book were already showing their age through the browning of the paper then; otherwise a fine copy in a very good dust jacket with rubbing to the folds, tears at both upper spine folds and a small stain at the lower edge of the front panel. An uncommon book signed, especially at such an early date, when this was the author's only book.
76. DOCTOROW, E.L. Big As Life. NY: Simon & Schuster (1966). His second novel, a science fiction tale of sorts, which the author has refused to allow to be reprinted. Inscribed by the author in July 1969 to the author's friend and admirer, the editor of Mad magazine: "To Nick Meglin/ who bought this book/ who is mad/ who is a good man/ E.L. Doctorow." Near fine in a very good jacket with light edge wear and foxing on verso.
77. DOCTOROW, E.L. The Book of Daniel. NY: Random House (1971). The author's third novel, loosely based on the lives of the children of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, and thus the first of his books to use the novel form as a vehicle for exploring contemporary political and social issues -- a practice he continued successfully in such novels as the award-winning Ragtime and Billy Bathgate. This title was nominated for the National Book Award and was made into a modestly successful film. Signed by the author. Owner name front flyleaf -- of a noted collector, and the former President of Dartmouth College and the University of Iowa; faint mottling to cloth; spot to top stain; near fine in a fine dust jacket with a little crimp at the heel. Overall, a very attractive copy.
78. DOCTOROW, E.L. Ragtime. NY: Random House (1975). His fourth book, a historical novel of America at the beginning of the twentieth century, peopled with such characters as Henry Ford, Emma Goldman, J.P. Morgan, Theodore Dreiser and others. Winner of the first National Book Critics Circle Award to be given and the basis for a highly successful film. Signed by the author in 1991. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.
79. -. Another copy. Signature of the author cut and pasted to flyleaf. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.
80. -. Same title, the first Bantam illustrated edition, which was only issued in softcover. NY: Bantam (1976). Inscribed by the author in 1977: "To Nick Meglin/ than whom there is/ no one more kind and/ considerate/ even if his patience/ is sometimes sorely tried/ by irresponsible friends/ the worst of them assuredly/ being the author of this bk/ E.L. Doctorow." Slight heel bump; else fine in wrappers, in a fine slipcase. A fairly common edition, but an exceptionally uncommon inscription, and a nice association copy.
81. DOCTOROW, E.L. Drinks Before Dinner. NY: Random House (1979). His fifth book, first play. Signed by the author in 1991. Remainder mark to top edge; else fine in a fine dust jacket.
82. -. Same title. Book club edition. Inscribed by the author in 1980 "To my loyal reader/ Nick Meglin/ with best wishes for the/ New Decade." Fine in a near fine, price-clipped dust jacket.
83. DOCTOROW, E.L. Loon Lake. NY: Random House (1980). His fifth novel, a National Book Award nominee. Signed by the author in 1991. Remainder mark; else fine in a very near fine dust jacket.
84. -. Same title. Signed by the author on the title page and with the signature of the author cut and pasted to the front flyleaf. Cocked, with foxing to top edge; very good in a very good dust jacket with tears at the corners and creases on the front and rear panels.
85. DOCTOROW, E.L. Lives of the Poets. NY: Random House (1984). A collection of six stories and a novella, his first book of short fiction. Inscribed by the author in 1988. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with one short creased edge tear.
86. DOCTOROW, E.L. Billy Bathgate. NY: Random House (1989). A novel that was nominated for the National Book Award and which won the William Dean Howells Medal for the best work of fiction in a five year period, as well as the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction and the PEN/Faulkner Award. Inscribed by the author in 1991. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
87. DOCTOROW, E.L. The Waterworks. NY: Random House (1994). Set in New York City in the 1870s, this novel is both a story in itself and also a portrait of New York City at a particular moment in time. Like Gore Vidal with his series of historical novels of the American political experience, Doctorow has been creating a history of New York in fiction, from Ragtime and Billy Bathgate to World's Fair and The Book of Daniel. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
88. DODD, Susan. Old Wives' Tales. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press (1984). The hardcover issue of her first book, winner of the Iowa School of Letters Award for short fiction. Inscribed by the author to the President of the University of Iowa and his wife: "For Jim and Sheba Freedman -/ who help to make/ Iowa what it is -- my/ most cherished dream and/ my happiest memory./ With affection and regard -/ Susan M. Dodd/ Iowa City/ 11/8/84." Fine in a fine dust jacket. Uncommon in hardcover, especially in fine condition and as a good association copy.
89. DODD, Susan. No Earthly Notion. (NY): Viking (1986). A review copy of her second book, first novel. Signed by the author on the title page and further inscribed by Dodd at length and with "inexpressible gratitude" on the half-title. In part: "...and I hope someday/ to write a book that/ will really make Iowa/ proud of me. In the/ meantime, this one -/ With love, Susan/ Iowa City/ February, 1987." Fine in a fine dust jacket, with publisher's review slip and promotional sheet laid in.
90. DUBUS, Andre. The Lieutenant. NY: Dial, 1967. Bound galleys of his first book and only novel, a story of the peacetime military and the challenges to manhood and honor that its rigid code of morals creates. Dubus said that after he wrote this novel someone introduced him to Chekhov's stories, and he threw away the manuscript of his next novel and began writing short fiction -- of which he became one of our most acclaimed and accomplished practitioners, a "writer's writer" who was admired as a model and a mentor by many authors whose fame outstripped his own. 7 1/4" x 10", ringbound, printed on rectos only. Cover sheet partially detached; date and price handwritten at top; prior dampening most noticeable along the spine edge of the rear page. Still about near fine. Laid in is a typed note signed from E.L. Doctorow, in his position as editor-in-chief at Dial, to Wright Morris, soliciting comment. An unusual format for a proof, and a scarce proof: we have never seen another copy of it, nor heard of one; the author himself did not have one in his library.
91. DUBUS, Andre. Separate Flights. Boston: Godine (1975). Bound galley sheets of his second book, and the first collection of the short fiction for which he won a considerable reputation. Winner of a Boston Globe award for fiction. 10" x 12"; printed on rectos only; ringbound in cardstock covers. Publication date (June, 1975) and price handwritten on cover; the date of the proof (2/27/75) is also handwritten on the cover. Formerly taped across lower page edges; near fine. Very scarce; we've never seen or heard of another copy.