"A BOOK TO BE TREASURED": FIRST EDITION OF MISTER MONKEY, SIGNED BY FRANCINE PROSE

PROSE, Francine. Mister Monkey. (New York): HarperCollins, (2016). Octavo, original half black cloth, original dust jacket. $175.

First edition of Francine Prose's highly acclaimed novel—"a great work"—signed by Prose on the title page.

In this seemingly "modest, mischievous little novel, Francine Prose has, modestly and mischievously, given us a great work. Expertly constructed, Mister Monkey is so fresh and new it's almost giddy, almost impudent with originality. Tender and artful, Prose's 15th novel is a sophisticated satire, a gently spiritual celebration of life, a dark and thoroughly grim depiction of despair, a screwball comedy, a screwball tragedy… If the words 'jewel' or 'gem' weren't so diminished by indiscriminate use, they might do to describe Mister Monkey. It's gorgeous and bright and fun and multifaceted, carrying within it the geological force of the ages. It's a book to be treasured. But 'jewel' and 'gem' have been diminished in a critical context, so let me use another word, which cannot be diminished: Chekhovian. It's that good. It's that funny. It's that sad. It's that deceptive and deep" (New York Times). Bookseller "Autographed Copy" sticker affixed to dust jacket front panel.

A fine signed copy.