DEM
First paperback edition of Kelley's sharp comedy of the anxieties and fantasies of '60s white America.
Fine.
Price: $125.00
DEM
"He spent most of September in bed."
A "merciless satire on the themes of white fear, guilt, and hypocrisy," sending its ineffectual protagonist, a mediocrity who works in advertising, on a "picaresque journey through black New York" (Schulz). A student of John Hawkes and Archibald Macleish at Harvard, lecturer at the University of Paris and Sarah Lawrence College, the recipient of the Anisford-Wolf Book Award for Lifetime Achievement, Kelley earned early success and considerable critical acclaim at the outset of his career, though his fame would drastically diminish by the end of his life: His 1962 essay for the New York Times, "If You're Woke You Dig It" – cited by the OED as the first published usage of "woke" in its modern sense – has attracted as much mention in recent years as his many literary accomplishments. DEM was, Kelley said, based on observation: "I know rich white people. I know poor white people. I know white people."
Read more: Kathryn Schultz, "The Lost Giant of American Literature," The New Yorker; "William Melvin Kelley: Interview," Mosaic Magazine.
The Object
(New York): Collier Books, (1969). 7'' x 4.25''. Introduction by Willie E. Abraham. Original pictorial wrappers, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. 141, [1] pages. Minimal edgewear; very faint toning to wrappers. Else appears unread.
The Fine Print
We work hard to meet our ethical responsibility to describe our material accurately. All items are guaranteed as described and may be returned for any reason within 30 days. Please notify us before mailing a return.
We guarantee the authenticity of our items. All materials are original (meaning not facsimiles or reproductions) unless otherwise noted. First editions (meaning first edition, first printing) are explicitly stated. TPM is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America and upholds their Code of Ethics.
All photographs are of the actual item for sale. We're happy to provide additional images on request.
All domestic orders ship gratis. For orders under $250, free USPS media mail shipping is included; orders $250 and over ship USPS Priority. International orders over $500 also ship gratis. Expedited, overnight, as well as other carriers (UPS, Fed-Ex, etc.), may carry additional costs beyond quoted rates. All orders receive tracking information and a direct contact in case of any questions.
International buyers are responsible for any customs, taxes, and related import fees. Please note that we are unable to accomodate requests to misrepresent, misdeclare, or otherwise falsify customs documents when shipping internationally. We appreciate your understanding.
We accept all major credit cards, Paypal, Venmo, check, money order, and bank wire. We are happy to bill institutional buyers' needs. Sales tax will be added to applicable purchases. Items subject to prior sale.
If for any reason you are dissatisfied with your purchase, please contact us. We prioritize our long-term relationships far above any individual purchase, and we want you to love your item as much as we loved cataloguing it.
