Washington, DC, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1978. Roughly 800 words by Updike. In part: "I love my Government not least for the extent to which it leaves me alone. My personal ambition has been simply to live by the work of my pen. This is not a very fastidious ambition. If I were aware of large amounts of Federal money available to purveyors of the written words I would attempt to gain access to it and hope to please the administrators of this fund as I hope to please magazine editors and bookbuyers. But I would rather have as my patron a host of anonymous citizens digging into their own pockets for the price of a book..." Modest cover creasing; small joint tear; date stamped to cover. Near fine in wrappers. An interesting and uncommon Updike piece, not available elsewhere. [#034751] $500