“A STANDING OVATION IS DUE FOR THIS AMERICAN CLASSIC”: FIRST EDITION OF PETRY’S THE STREET
PETRY, Ann. The Street. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1946. Octavo, original pictorial blue-gray cloth, original dust jacket.
First edition of Petry’s acclaimed novel that brings the struggles of an African American woman and her son in Harlem “vividly and disturbingly to life” (New York Times), in scarce dust jacket.
"Half a century after The Street was first published by Houghton-Mifflin, Ann Petry's creations, Lutie Johnson and her eight-year-old son Bub, are still regarded as among the more indelible characters of black literature." Petry broke new ground with this novel that brought Harlem and the everyday struggles of African American women "vividly and disturbingly to life" (New York Times). As author Gloia Naylor noted, "a standing ovation is due for this American classic." At one time Lena Horne was considered for the lead in the unproduced film adaptation. Jordan 513.13. Blockson 6500.
Light edge-wear, faint toning to spine of dust jacket. A near-fine copy.