The Lost Steps

Alejo Carpentier. Stated first American edition, first printing. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1956. Both unclipped dust jacket and hardcover are in Very Good+ condition. Jacket designed by Paul Rand. Other than former owner signature on flyleaf, there are no markings or writing found in the book, 278 pp. From the estate of Jack Lockhart, New York.  

Carpentier crafts a rich and philosophical journey through the South American jungle, blending magical realism with existential reflection. The story follows a disillusioned musicologist from New York who embarks on a quest to find a primitive, unspoiled civilization—and in doing so, hopes to rediscover meaning in a modern, alienated world. As he travels deeper into the wilderness, he confronts not only the myths and mysteries of the landscape, but also the contradictions of his own identity and civilization itself.

A profound meditation on time, culture, and the human search for authenticity, The Lost Steps is a cornerstone of Latin American literature.

The author won the Prix du Meilleur Livre Etranger (prize for Best Foriegn book) for the French translation of The Lost Steps. 

First‑printing American edition of The Lost Steps by Alejo Carpentier. Hardcover with original $3.75 unclipped DJ in very‑good-plus condition. Rare collectible novel—ideal for literary, Latin American, magical realism fans.