"THE INTEREST YOU HAVE SHOWN IN MY BOOK IS FLATTERING": FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION/ASSOCIATION COPY, OF GROUEFF'S CLASSIC WORK ON THE MANHATTAN PROJECT, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR IN THE YEAR OF PUBLICATION AND ACCOMPANIED BY A SIGNED AUTOGRAPH LETTER BY GROUEFF DISCUSSING HIS FEELINGS OVER THE PUBLICATION OF HIS BOOK AND THE BOOK LAUNCH PARTY

GROUEFF, Stephane. Manhattan Project. The Untold Story of the Making of the Atomic Bomb. WITH: Autograph letter signed. Boston and Toronto: Little, Brown, (1967). Octavo, original black cloth, original dust jacket, custom cloth chemise and half morocco slipcase. WITH: Single sheet of letterhead, measuring 6 by 8-1/2 inches.

First edition, presentation copy, of this comprehensive history of the Manhattan Project, inscribed on the half title in the year of publication to the author's friends, prominent mining and minerals magnate, Charles Engelhard, and his wife, Jane, a major philanthropist: "To Charlie and Jane, in friendship. Stephane Groueff. May 1, 1967." Accompanied by a signed autograph letter dated a day later also to Jane, written entirely in French in the author's hand, thanking her for her interest in the book; comparing the joy of finishing the book to childbirth; and expressing his disappointment that Jane could not come to the book launch.

"Groueff, a Paris Match reporter, was sponsored by The Reader's Digest to write this prodigious account of the multiple efforts which went into the creation of the first atomic bomb between 1942 and 1945. The book is a history of the men involved, mainly; and Groves, the military commander, is obviously the author's hero. Reading like the account of a hurdle race, the book charges into a discussion of a problem, then 'finds' and describes the man who bested it. Thus are described the building of Oak Ridge, Fermi's atomic pile, the electromagnetic process, the crises over the barrier and the valves for the gaseous diffusion process, the last-minute decisions concerning the implosion process with plutonium. Groueff does convey well a scene of fantastic activity, where different solutions to one problem were worked on simultaneously, where industrial equipment came before scientific results were known, where the 'impossible' was achieved—in time. The material is fascinating, and the scientific information is well presented" (Kirkus). The accompanying letter, written entirely in the author's hand in French on "1120 Fifth Avenue" letterhead and dated "May 2, 1967," reads (in translation): "My dear Jane, The interest that you have shown in my book is flattering, and I am touched by your attention. When you give birth after such a long pregnancy, the congratulations for the baby are so enjoyable! Too bad you could not come to the book launch, to meet some of my scholars, but I hope to see you again soon. I hug you, Stephane." The letter is written to Jane Mannheimer Engelhard, the wife of a prominent mining and minerals magnate, Charlie Engelhard. Jane was a well-known philanthropist, supporting organizations such as the New Jersey Symphony. She served on the boards of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Morgan Library. She also was a member of the Fine Arts Committee of the White House, organized during the Kennedy administration. In 1977, Engelhard was the first woman appointed as a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Groueff's My Odyssey mentions the Engelhards.

Book fine, dust jacket near-fine with only light wear to extremities. Letter with only slight soiling and minor tape residue to verso. A most desirable copy with autograph letter.