William Faulkner. First edition, first printing (stated). Dust Jacket: Very Good. An unclipped jacket with original price $4.75 on top, inside flap and 8/54 on bottom of the flap. Jacket design by Riki Levinson. There is a small tear on front bottom of jacket. In addition, there is a small piece missing on top of spine with chipping. The integrity of the jacket itself though is strong. Rare first state dust jacket with all first edition points. Hardcover: Very Good+ New York: Random House, 1954. Former owner signature on inside cover, otherwise, no writing or markings in the book, 437 pp. Red cloth with black cross design on cover and gold lettering on spine.
This is a story of World War I, set in the trenches in France, dealing ostensibly with a mutiny in a French regiment. It was originally considered a sharp departure for Faulkner. Recently it has come to be recognized as one of his major works and an essential part of Faulkner's work. According to The New York Times, and in Malcolm Cowley's words, "some of the most powerful scenes he ever conceived."
It took Faulkner nine years to write A Fable, starting when it was conceived in December 1944 until it was completed in November 1953. The Fable won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award in 1955.
Random House published a deluxe issue prior to this, the first printing, consisting of 1,000 numbered copies signed by the author.
