"DELIGHTFULLY ORIGINAL": FIRST EDITION OF CHARLES PORTIS' FIRST NOVEL, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR

PORTIS, Charles. Norwood. New York: Simon and Schuster, (1966). Octavo, original blue cloth, original dust jacket. $6800.

First edition of the first novel from the author of True Grit, in the elusive original dust jacket, inscribed on the front free endpaper by Portis: "For J— C— of Spokane, with best regards, Charles Portis Aug. 15 1994 Little Rock."

The publicity-shy Portis, who died in in early 2020, "drew a cult following and accolades as the work of possibly the nation's best unknown writer" (New York Times). "For longtime readers, new fans, and especially writers who try to write funny stuff and know how hard it is, Portis' work is peerless." Norwood, his first novel, "depicts the road trip of Norwood Pratt, a Marine and would-be country singer from Ralph, Texas, who travels to New York City and back to try and collect a debt from an old service buddy, Joe William Reese. Along the way Norwood meets a travel writer who never goes anywhere, 'the world's smallest perfect man,' and Joann the Wonder Hen. When it was published on July 29, 1966… the first printing sold out by the end of August and the New York Times called it 'delightfully original'" (Oxford American). First edition, with "First Printing" on copyright page. Serialized in part in the Saturday Evening Post the same year. Small authentication sticker on front free endpaper verso.

Book in fine condition, dust jacket very nearly so. An attractive inscribed copy.