“THE PEAK OF FAULKNER’S FICTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT”: FIRST EDITION OF ABSALOM, ABSALOM!

FAULKNER, William. Absalom, Absalom! New York: Random House, 1936. Octavo, original black cloth, original dust jacket; house in a custom clamshell box. $25,000.

First trade edition of “the greatest American novel since the turn of the century.”

"Absalom is the peak of Faulkner's fictional achievement. It is unquestionably the greatest American novel since the turn of the century… Its sole competitors among contemporary American novels are Dreiser's American Tragedy and Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, neither of which approaches Faulkner's innovative daring" (Karl, 582). Of Faulkner's novels, "Absalom Absalom! remains a favorite of many—if not most—critics" (Parini, 212). With black and red folding map of Faulkner's fictional Yoknapatawpha County. Published simultaneously with the signed limited edition. Petersen A18.2b. Hamblin & Brodsky 187.

Book near-fine, with inner paper hinges splitting, cloth fresh; dust jacket beautiful and very nearly fine with only one short closed tear to rear panel, with none of the usual fading to spine. An exceptional copy.