Boston, Little Brown, (1967). His first book, a novel of contemporary cowboy life that was selected by the New York Times as one of the 10 best novels of the year. Inscribed by Decker to Wallace Stegner's son, the writer Page Stegner and his first wife, Marion: "For Page and Marion/ with the hope that it won't offend their Aesthetics or drive them over the Edge/ Bill." Two of Page Stegner's books were titled The Edge and Escape into Aesthetics, hence the wording of the inscription. A nice association copy of a highly regarded Western novel. Decker went on to become an editor at several publishing houses, and edited such writers as Ernest Gaines, Larry McMurtry and Wallace Stegner himself. Fine in a very good dust jacket with a few small stains to the spine and rear panel, which also sports a very supportive blurb by Wallace Stegner, part of which is also reproduced on the front panel. [#032704] SOLD