Author's First Books, H-J
173. HALL, James W. Under Cover of Daylight. NY: Norton (1987). His first novel, introducing the protagonist of the series, Thorn. Fine in a fine dust jacket and signed by the author.
174. HAMILTON, Jane. The Book of Ruth. NY: Ticknor & Fields, 1988. The highly praised first book by the author of A Map of the World, which was a National Book Award finalist. This title won the PEN Hemingway Award, and was recently a selection of TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey's reading club. Fine in a dust jacket with a few short indentations on the rear cover, else fine.
175. HAMMETT, Dashiell. Red Harvest. NY: Knopf, 1929. Hammett's first novel, which introduced a new kind of detective--the tough, cynical Continental Operative--and in so doing invented an entirely new genre of fiction, as American as jazz music--the hardboiled detective novel. This is an exceptionally fine copy, lacking the dust jacket. A fine, jacketed copy of this book would likely bring upwards of today. A landmark novel.
176. HANNAH, Barry. Geronimo Rex. NY: Viking (1972). The author's well-received first book, winner of the Faulkner Prize for best first novel of the year, and nominated for the National Book Award. Near fine in dust jacket and inscribed by the author.
177. HARRISON, Jamie. The Edge of the Crazies. NY: Hyperion, 1995. The advance reading copy of this well-received first novel by poet and novelist Jim Harrison's daughter. With blurbs by Peter Matthiessen, James Crumley, and others. Fine in wrappers and inscribed by the author.
178. HARRISON, Jim. Plain Song. NY: Norton (1965). First edition of Harrison's first book, a collection of poems. This is the scarce hardcover edition, one of 1500 copies; it was also issued simultaneously in wrappers. This copy has a small scuff on the copyright page over the word "First" in the first edition statement; otherwise it is a fine copy in fine dust jacket and is inscribed by the author. An attractive copy of a book that has become quite difficult in recent years.
179. -. Another copy. This copy has ink markings on the contents page and one page of text, otherwise near fine in a very good, price-clipped dust jacket.
180. HARRISON, Jim. Wolf. NY: Simon & Schuster (1971). The author's first novel, after several books of poetry. This copy has the ubiquitous thin remainder line on the bottom edge of the pages, otherwise fine in a near fine dust jacket with two tiny creased tears at the spine crown. Signed by the author in 1989.
181. HARRISON, Kathryn. Thicker than Water. NY: Random House (1991). Well-received first novel by this author who attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop and later received a Michener Fellowship. Fine in fine dust jacket and signed by the author.
182. HASFORD, Gustav. The Short-Timers. NY: Harper & Row (1979). According to the author, this is Copy No. 1 of his first book, a novel that was made into the landmark movie Full Metal Jacket by Stanley Kubrick. A short, grim book, it has been called one of the most powerful to come out of the Vietnam War and the movie was equally stunning in its portrayal of the brutalization of the recruits who were being sent to war, both before they went and after they arrived. This copy bears a typed label on the half title that reads: "The 1st copy of my 1st book/ Received Thursday Nov. 30, 1978/ Morro Bay, California." The label is signed "Gustav Hasford." The rear endpaper bears a similar typed label reading "REWARD RETURN TO" followed by the author's name and address. A unique copy of a near-legendary first book. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
183. -. Same title, the uncorrected proof copy. Small label partially removed from front cover; else fine in wrappers.
184. HAWKES, John. The Cannibal. (NY): (New Directions) (1949). The author's first novel, a story of World War II published in the influential "Direction" series. The spine is tanned and worn at the crown; very good in a dust jacket chipped at the spine extremities; else very good.
185. -. Same title, the first British edition (London: Neville Spearman, 1962). Sticker removal marks on the front endpapers, otherwise near fine in a very good dust jacket. An uncommon edition, issued in the U.K. 13 years after its original U.S. publication, on the heels of the success of his novel The Lime Twig.
186. HAZZARD, Shirley. Cliffs of Fall. NY: Knopf, 1963. First American edition of her first book, a collection of stories. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
187. HELLER, Joseph. Catch-22. NY: Simon & Schuster, 1961. Advance review copy of Heller's first book, a humorous novel of World War II and military life whose title has become a part of the language, signifying a contradictory set of constraints or parameters. This book was both the basis for a well-received movie and also one of the novels that helped define the ethos of the 1960s--funny, irreverent, and critical of established authority and bureaucracy. This copy has had the front hinge professionally repaired and is thus near fine in a near fine dust jacket with a touch of rubbing on the front panel, a 1" closed slice at the upper rear spine fold, and very slight fading and foxing to the spine. Signed by the author on the title page. Together with an autograph note signed, written across a letter requesting Heller's signature in the book. With publisher's review slip, promotional photo and other material laid in. Very uncommon signed or as a prepublication, review copy; rare as both.
188. HELPRIN, Mark. A Dove of the East and Other Stories. NY: Knopf, 1975. Uncorrected proof copy of the author's first book. Slight overall tanning to the blue wrappers; near fine.
189. HEMINGWAY, Ernest. Three Stories and Ten Poems. Paris, 1923. One of 300 copies of this unprepossessing first book, which gave little indication of the author's eventual stature as the dean of American literature and one of the most influential writers of the century. Original wrappers very slightly spine sunned and with a tiny split at the bottom of the front hinge but still an exceptionally fine copy of this fragile volume; partly unopened. Full morocco case. One of the most difficult first books and exceedingly rare in fine condition.
190. HENRY, O. Cabbages and Kings. NY: 1904. The first book, a collection of short stories by the writer who was perhaps the central figure during the heyday of the American magazine short story, and whose penchant for plotting a bizarre twist to the conclusion of his tales became a trademark and an influence on later generations. For years one of the most prominent annual short story awards was given in his name, and an anthology published of the prize nominees and winners. This is a fresh, near fine copy with minor edge rubbing, in the extremely rare dust jacket which is creased and with some small tears repaired. Short splits at top and bottom of folds. Still a very attractive copy, with a full morocco slipcase.
191. HERR, Michael. Dispatches. NY: Knopf, 1977. Herr, reporting for Rolling Stone and Esquire from Vietnam, was one of the first of the young writers to bring the sensibilities of the 1960s and the conventions of the New Journalism to the "first rock-and-roll war." His eagerly awaited dispatches, originally published in Equire, Rolling Stone and New American Review were riveting: Herr told his stories of the war in the uncensored words of the participants themselves, a rarity at the time, and they served to undermine the official picture of an orderly progression to the conflict--Body Counts, Vietnamization, Winning Hearts and Minds. His writings crystallized the "credibility gap" that made Vietnam different from earlier wars and represent some of the most powerful reporting to come out of Vietnam. Very near fine in like, price-clipped dust jacket.
192. (HIAASEN, Carl). SHULMAN, Neil, M.D. Finally...I'm a Doctor. NY: Scribner's (1976). Reportedly Hiaasen ghost-wrote this book for Shulman--a comic first-person account of medical school. Hiaasen is acknowledged for his "help with this book," along with two others. Very near fine in like, price-clipped dust jacket. Signed by Shulman.
193. HIAASEN, Carl and MONTALBANO, William D. Powder Burn. NY: Atheneum, 1981. The uncorrected proof copy of the first of their collaborations, laid into a proof dust jacket. The first novel for each. A fine copy of the proof in a dust jacket that is oversize and slightly rumbled but still at least very good. A very scarce book even in the trade edition; much more so in proof form.
194. HILLERMAN, Tony. The Blessing Way. (Lon): Macmillan (1970). First English edition of the author's first book, which introduced Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and began a series of highly praised and award-winning novels, as notable for their attention to the details of Navajo culture as for their dual-track plotting, where both a Navajo and a Western motive fit the crime. Hillerman wrote for nearly 20 years in relative obscurity before his commercial breakthrough; now, not only are his novels bestsellers upon publication--with first printings that number in the hundreds of thousands--but they have helped spawn the latest development in the mystery genre--opening up the field to protagonists of every different ethnicity and individual or cultural idiosyncracy imaginable, and allowing it to take on a new, self-conscious function--that of using the form to explore significant social issues, often ones that might easily remains obscure or well-hidden. This is a fine copy in a near fine, price-clipped dust jacket with a small edge tear on the front panel.
195. HINTON, S.E. The Outsiders. NY: Viking (1967). Her first book, a novel of alienated teenagers that became a minor classic and many years later was made into a well-received movie. Minor foxing and spine-fading; a near fine copy in the pictorial library binding, without dust jacket, as issued.
196. HJORTSBERG, William. Alp. NY: Simon & Schuster (1969). The author's first book. Fine in a fine dust jacket and inscribed by the author in 1974. A nice copy of an uncommon book.
197. -. Another copy. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.
198. HOAGLAND, Edward. Cat Man. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1956. The author's first book, winner of the Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship Award. Advance review copy with publisher's review slip laid in. Fine in an about near fine dust jacket with several short edge tears. An attractive copy of a book that because of its unlaminated dust jacket shows wear easily.
199. -. Another copy, not a review copy. Near fine in very good jacket.
200. HOBAN, Russell. The Lion of Boaz-Jachin and Jachin-Boaz. Lon: Cape (1973). Uncorrected proof copy of the first edition of the first novel by the author of Riddley Walker. A modern fantasy classic about makers of maps and seekers of metaphorical lions. Near fine in wrappers.
201. HOFFMAN, Alice. Property Of. NY: FSG (1977). Her highly praised first book, a novel of teenage gangs that is now somewhat scarce. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
202. HOGAN, Linda. Mean Spirit. NY: Atheneum, 1990. First novel by this poet/novelist of Chickasaw Indian descent. Based in historical fact, this is a grim tale of an Oklahoma land grab in the 1920's when oil was discovered in what had been Indian Territory, which victimized Indians who had already been displaced once from their earlier homelands. Winner of the Oklahoma Book Award for fiction, the Mountain and Plains Booksellers' Association Fiction Award, and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Fine in dust jacket and signed by the author.
203. HOLMES, Clellon. Go. NY: Scribner, 1952. His first book and widely considered the first novel of the "Beat generation," predating Jack Kerouac's On the Road by 5 years. Holmes's book deals with a "group of young people whose lives are frenetic and...are driven by a craving for excess. Their long nights involve liquor and marijuana, with the beat of bebop in the background." A seminal novel of postwar American youth, which helped set the parameters of rebellion and cultural revolt over the next twenty years. Inscribed twice by the author: once in the year of publication, "For ____ ____/ Thank you for a fine/ talk, during which I didn't/ let you say very much/ my best -;" and again 24 years later, "For ____ ____ -/ Hoping to have a talk/ sometime -" The first inscription has two waterspots. The book is near fine in a price-clipped, about very good jacket with chips and wear at the spine crown.
204. -. Another copy. Inscribed by the author in the year of publication: "For Phyllis -/ with gratitude for all/ her help and understanding -/ my best,/ John." Dated September 12, 1952. Covers slightly soiled, about very good in a good dust jacket heavily worn down the front flap fold and with small chips at the spine extremities. Still, a very scarce first book, especially signed.
205. HOSPITAL, Janette Turner. The Ivory Swing. (Toronto): McLelland & Stewart (1982). Uncorrected proof copy of her first book, winner of Canada's Seal First Novel Award. Light edge-soiling to lower front cover; else near fine in ringbound cardstock wrappers.
206. HOUSTON, Pam. Cowboys are My Weakness. NY: Norton (1992). Advance reading copy of her highly praised first book, a collection of stories, one of which was selected for The Best American Short Stories 1990. A fine copy in pictorial wrappers. Scarce.
207. HOWARD, Maureen. Not a Word About Nightingales. NY: Atheneum, 1962. First American edition of her first book, a novel that was published in England in 1960. Fine in a very near fine jacket with a couple small faint spots on the upper spine.
208. HUGO, Richard. Death and the Good Life. NY: St. Martin's (1981). The award-winning poet's first and only novel, a murder mystery which received surprisingly good reviews and was reportedly written in response to the mystery novels by his good friend James Crumley. Mild foxing to top edge of pages; near fine in price-clipped dust jacket and inscribed by the author.
209. -. Same title, the uncorrected proof copy. Fine in wrappers. Scarce in proof format.
210. HUMPHREYS, Josephine. Dreams of Sleep. NY: Viking (1984). Review copy of her highly praised first novel. Fine in a fine dust jacket review slip, photo, and promotional sheet laid in. Inscribed by the author.
211. IRVING, John. Setting Free the Bears. NY: Random House (1968). The author's first book inscribed in the year of publication (which was actually 1969): For _____,/ who's managed/ my business so/ nicely ---- 4/16/69./ John Irving." Light indentation at mid-spine; else very near fine in a near fine dust jacket also with a dent at mid spine and with some mild dampstaining on the lower verso that appears on the outer lower corner of the jacket. Irving's first novel precedes his breakthrough book, The World According to Garp, by a decade. Inscribed copies of this book are uncommon enough but those with a contemporary inscription, predating the point at which Irving became a "collectible" author, are rare.
212. -. Another copy. Some spotting to top edge; very near fine in a fine dust jacket. An attractive copy of a book that has become quite scarce in recent years, especially in nice shape.
213. -. Another copy. Front board slightly bowed; near fine in a near fine dust jacket with an 1" edge tear at the upper front spine fold. Still, a nice copy of an increasingly uncommon book by an author who has continued to gain a wide following and whose books now are bestsellers upon publication, with first printings that run to six figures.
214. JACKSON, Jon A. The Diehard. NY: Random House (1977). His first book, introducing Detective Sergeant Mullheisen. Lower corners mildly bumped and top edge slightly dusty, thus near fine in dust jacket. A very nice copy of an uncommon first book.
215. JEN, Gish. Typical American. Boston: HM/SL, 1991. Her first book, a highly praised novel of the contemporary Chinese-American experience. Fine in fine dust jacket and signed by the author.
216. JHABVALA, R. Prawer. To Whom She Will. London: Allen and Unwin (1955). First edition of the first book by this Indian-born author who is perhaps most well-known for her Booker Prize-winning novel Heat and Dust and for her screenplays for a number of high-profile Merchant-Ivory film productions. Foxing to endpages and spotting to top edge; else near fine in a very good dust jacket with one edge tear, modest foxing to the rear panel and light wear to the spine extremities. For all its minor flaws, still quit attractive overall, and uncommon.
217. JOHNSON, Charles R. Black Humor. Chicago: Johnson Publishing, 1970. The first book by this African-American author, a collection of cartoons focused on issues of race. Johnson won high praise for his first novel Faith and the Good Thing and later won the National Book Award for Middle Passage. Only issued in wrappers, a fine copy.
218. JOHNSON, Denis. Angels. NY: Knopf, 1983. The author's first novel, a tale of drifters that is reminiscent of the fiction noir of Robert Stone. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.
219. (JOHNSON, Joyce). GLASSMAN, Joyce. Come and Join the Dance. NY: Atheneum, 1962. The author's first book, written under her maiden name; all of her subsequent books have been published as "Johnson." A coming-of-age novel by a young writer who was closely involved with the Beat movement in the late Fifties, having been for a time Jack Kerouac's girlfriend. Fine in a very good dust jacket rubbed along the folds.
220. JONG, Erica. Fruits & Vegetables. NY: HRW (1971). The hardcover issue of her first book, a collection of poetry. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
221. JONG, Erica. Fear of Flying. NY: HRW (1973). Uncorrected proof copy of her first novel and breakthrough book, a landmark of women's literature and a key book for the emerging feminist movement of the 1970s, because it explored women's sexuality in a frank manner that was previously unknown. Fine in wrappers. A scarce proof of an important novel.
222. JUST, Ward S. To What End. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1968. The author's first book, reportage and personal accounts from his 18 months in Vietnam covering the war for the Washington Post. Fine in a near dust fine jacket.
223. -. Another copy. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.