“LUCID BEAUTY… OWING EQUAL DEBT TO HEMINGWAY AND HAMMETT”

BURKE, James Lee. To the Bright and Shining Sun. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, (1970). Octavo, original green cloth, original dust jacket. $1400.

First edition of Burke’s critically praised second novel, set in the coal fields of eastern Kentucky.

James Lee Burke followed the critical success of his first novel, Half of Paradise (1965), with this powerful early work that affirms the distinctive quality of Burke's writing. "The effect is one of lucid beauty, a staccato shorthand owing equal debt to Hemingway and Hammett" (Salon). First edition: with code "A-6.70 (H)" on the copyright page indicating first printing ("A") in June 1970, "(H)" indicating manufacturer.

A fine copy.