Paula Fox. Stated first American edition, first printing. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1970. Unclipped dust jacket is in Very Good condition. With a sticker on back of dust jacket as well as two small tears and chipping on rear jacket. Original price $4.95 still on inside flap. Jacket design by Loretta Trezzo. The hardcover is in Near Fine condition. No writing or markings found in the book, 156 pp. Very rare first edition in this dust jacket.
A sharp, collectible first edition, first printing of Paula Fox’s modern classic Desperate Characters (New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1970). This copy includes the original unclipped dust jacket, with both jacket and hardcover in Very Good condition. Clean interior, no writing or markings—an excellent example of one of the most acclaimed American novels of the 20th century.
Desperate Characters has earned a reputation as Fox’s masterpiece, praised for its precision, tension, and psychological depth. A foundational work of New York literary fiction, it continues to attract collectors, modern first edition enthusiasts, and readers of Joan Didion, James Salter, and Richard Yates.
Why This Book Matters
Paula Fox’s writing has seen a major resurgence, and Desperate Characters remains her signature work. First editions are becoming harder to find in intact, clean condition—especially with an unclipped jacket. A standout addition to any modern fiction, New York literature, or postwar American literature collection.
