first edition
1963 · (New York)
by Baldwin, James
(New York): Dell, 1963. Near fine.. First paperback edition of novel that Baldwin said "makes GIOVANNI seem conservative-almost square." Baldwin's 1962 novel was written over the course of more than a decade, during the author's stays in Greenwich Village, in William Styron's Connecticut guest house, in Paris, and finally in Istanbul: a writing process so long and so spread out over the globe because "I couldn't find the peace of mind-the space free of other people-to write anywhere in America" (Weatherby). The result, banned for obscenity in New Orleans and panned by a petulant Norman Mailer as "abominably written" except for the sex, was also a bestseller second only to Golding's LORD OF THE FLIES. NATIONAL REVIEW, of all places, called it "brilliantly written." 7'' x 4.25''. Original color pictorial wrappers with illustration by Oscar Liebman, Dell 0200, cover price 75c. All edges stained green. Publisher's ads at rear. 366, [2] pages. Toning to spine, text block edges and margins of leaves, with a couple tiny nicks to last leaf. Tight.
(Inventory #: 51079)