PRESENTATION COPY OF STORY OF MY LIFE, INSCRIBED CLARENCE DARROW

DARROW, Clarence. The Story of My Life. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1932. Octavo, original blue cloth, uncut and partially unopened, original dust jacket. $4000.

First trade edition of Darrow's autobiography, a presentation copy inscribed by him on the half title, "To Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Noble, With best wishes from Clarence Darrow Feby 1st, 1935," in original dust jacket.

"When Clarence Darrow died in 1938 at the age of 81, few disputed that he was one of the great advocates of his generation. There were other lawyers in his lifetime who contributed more to the development of legal science, who rose to positions of greater influence, or who won larger financial rewards, but perhaps none who could equal Darrow's eloquence before a jury or who could match his record as a rough and tumble crusader for the common man" (NYU, 1078). Darrow's "Story of My Life is still must reading for all citizens who care about liberties and our legal system" (Alan Dershowitz). With 14 drawings and photographic illustrations. First issue, with Scribner's "A" on copyright page. Preceded by the same year's signed limited edition. The recipient is likely the same W.S. Noble who represented Texas as a member of the Socialist Party's National Committee and was Secretary of the Land League of Texas, a tenant farmer's organization. Throughout his life Darrow famously aligned himself with the Socialist Party of America and regularly defended socialists in court.

Book fine; light edge-wear to colorful near-fine dust jacket. A handsome inscribed copy.