“I LOVE YOU? YES, I LOVE YOU. LIKE SAYING I HAVE CANCER."

O'HARA, John. Appointment in Samarra. New York: Harcourt, Brace, (1934). Octavo, original black cloth, original dust jacket. $5500.

First edition of O’Hara’s first novel.

John O'Hara's acclaimed first novel was "an instant success when it was published in 1934… tightly constructed and fast-paced, it detailed the three-day slide to self-destruction of a young man named Julian English… A meticulous craftsman," O'Hara was hailed as "'one of the most underrated authors in America" by Bennett Cerf, who said that "O'Hara belongs right up there with William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway" (New York Times). With publisher's errata slip tipped in after title page, as called for. Bruccoli Clark I:285. Owner inscription.

Book fine; some chipping, soiling to scarce, very good dust jacket.