“TO… DEAR FRIENDS WHO HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE”: A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT, WARMLY INSCRIBED BY NORMAN MACLEAN, WITH LENGTHY AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED LAID IN

MACLEAN, Norman. A River Runs Through It, and Other Stories. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press, (1976). Octavo, original blue cloth, original dust jacket. Housed in a custom clamshell box.

First edition, first printing of the author’s first book, one of only 1577 copies printed, presentation association copy warmly inscribed: “March 12, 1976. To Betty and George. Dear friends who have made a difference in my life. Norman.” With a lengthy autograph letter signed by Maclean.

Maclean’s largely autobiographical title novella is drawn from his early years spent mostly in the Rocky Mountain region. Though critically acclaimed, the work received little attention until its adaptation as a major film, after which it achieved tremendous popular success. In addition to the title story, this collection includes “Logging and Pimping and ‘Your Pal, Jim” and “USFS 1919: The Ranger, the Cook, and A Hole in the Sky.” The autograph letter signed by Maclean reads: “Feb. 16, 1969. Dear George & Theo., Thank you for your contribution to Jessie’s Memorial Fund and thank you for all that you and yours have done to help me face the world without her. As for the Memorial Fund, it is to supplement a fund already in existence at Billings for the study of emphysema. As for your great kindness to Jessie and me, it is hereditary and extends to the second and even third generations. Young George and Betsy have always been friendly and warm-hearted, and they have the gift of making us feel young as we grow older. Even Charlie and John already show the ‘Bobrinskoy Touch.’ As Jessie would say, ‘Bless you all.’ As ever, Norman.” Jessie was Maclean’s wife, who died in 1968 of cancer. In unclipped first-issue dust jacket, without edition statement. Someone has written “(Maclean)” next to the author’s signature on his letter. Maclean wrote this letter to George and Theodora Bobrinskoy, who were friends of the Macleans in Chicago. The George [Jr.] and and Betsy referred to in the letter were their son and daughter-in-law, and Charlie and John were their grandsons. George V. Bobrinskoy, Jr. was a lawyer best known for representing heirs to the estates of Ernest Hemingway and Igor Stravinsky. The Bobrinskoys are also Russian nobility and direct descendants of Catherine the Great.

An exceptional copy in fine condition, beautifully inscribed.