Warmly inscribed first edition of Baldwin's last and longest novel, an attempt to "face [his] own legends," built around the story of a Black musician's life told by his brother.
Very good plus in near fine jacket.
Price: $3,000.00
"Arthur does not know if he can live without love. Neither, on the other hand, can he invent it."
Baldwin's epic and ambitious late novel, written from the author's house in St-Paul-de-Vence, works toward a glimpse of a "utopian domestic space occupied by two black men in love" (Zaborowska) in its final pages: a much longed for, hard-won, and briefly held space for work and happiness. "It was beautiful to watch them; freedom is an extraordinary spectacle."
Read more: Traylor, "I Hear Music in the Air: James Baldwin's Just Above My Head"; Baldwin, James Baldwin: The Last Interview; Zaborowska, Me and My House: James Baldwin's Last Decade in France.
First printing. New York: The Dial Press, (1979). 9.25'' x 6''. Original burgundy cloth boards, gilt-lettered spine and front board. In original unclipped ($12.95) glossy color typographic dust jacket with design by Jack Ribik, photo of Baldwin by Max Petrus to rear panel. Tan endpapers. [10], 597, [1] pages. Inscribed by Baldwin on the dedication page: "Bobby & Joy / & Leah & Julian / with love, / and hold on, keep / the faith. / James Baldwin." Jacket with trace edgewear, one tiny ding to front joint, a bit of toning to flaps and underside. Cloth a bit sunned at extremities and spine. Top edge mildly soiled. Penned mark to rear endpaper. Overall, sharp and sound.
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