First edition of this scathing satire of fundamentalist Christianity in US America, with printed presentation slip signed by Lewis tipped onto the front endpaper.
Very good plus in restored dust jacket.
Price: $3,200.00
"Elmer Gantry was drunk. He was eloquently drunk, lovingly and pugnaciously drunk."
ELMER GANTRY was widely praised by critics and lambasted by members of the clergy. "Charlotte ministers were advised to refrain from their attack on art and sex magazines and concentrate upon getting ELMER GANTRY... off the press and newsstands" noted the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER; "The story is all fiction, with no reality in corresponding to actual life. Still newspapers are discussing it... it is one of the literary obsessions of Mr. Lewis that clergymen must continually be interested in girls' feet and ankles" observed the Sioux Falls ARGUS-LEADER (ironically in its "Weekly Meditation" column). A classic example of literary wasp nest-kicking.
Read more: "ELMER GANTRY Worse Than 'Art' Magazines, View of Local Critic," The Charlotte Observer 5 April 1927; "Weekly Meditation," The Daily Argus-Leader, 2 April 1927.
New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, (1927). 7.5'' x 5.25''. Original blue cloth binding with orange lettering to front board and spine. First issue with "Cantry" to spine (Bruccoli & Clark). Original unclipped ($2.50) green, red, and black dust jacket. Fore-edge machine deckle. 432 pages. Small printed card signed by Lewis tipped onto front flyleaf with a postage stamp, expressing regrets that he was unable to inscribe the book. Publisher's advance review copy slip laid in. Dust jacket with careful restoration to edges and spine, a bit of soiling to rear panel. Binding corners and spine ends lightly bumped, a bit of shelfwear. Clean and bright: shows well.
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 Ground Advantage. International orders over $1000 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.
Type Punch Matrix is a Washington D.C.-area rare book firm founded by Rebecca Romney and Brian Cassidy.
Read more about TPM.
