“WE ALL WANT THINGS WE CAN'T HAVE. BEING A DECENT HUMAN BEING IS ACCEPTING THAT"

FOWLES, John. The Collector. Boston and Toronto: Little, Brown, (1963). Octavo, original rose cloth, original dust jacket. $2200.

First American edition of Fowles' highly acclaimed first published novel, printed same year as the first English edition, inscribed: "Gene Robertson with the author's —— wishes — John Fowles. San Francisco 21.xi.1969."

"There is not a page in this first novel which does not prove that its author is a master storyteller" (New York Times). Although Fowles wrote The Collector after his magnum opus The Magus, The Collector was accepted for publication first, and began the basis for the 1965, Oscar-nominated film starring Terence Stamp. Preceded same year by first English edition.

Book very nearly fine, with faint dampstain to bottom margin of rear third of text. Dust jacket near-fine, with faint dampstain along spine and rubbing at spine ends affecting author's name. A near-fine inscribed copy.