NY, Knopf, 1955. His first novel. Inscribed by the author to fellow author Peter Matthiessen in 1959: "To Peter Matthiessen/ enroute to the edges of the world, as far from Centralism as anyone could be. Hope you enjoy Dr. Modesto." A satire of conformity in the 1950s, by a writer who was noted for his black humor, and who used his humor as a vehicle for social criticism. Harrington was friends with Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and Timothy Leary, and while he isn't usually thought of as a Beat writer or a counterculture writer, those writers were his closest peers. Near fine in a very good, spine-sunned dust jacket. [#031396] SOLD