John Updike. First edition (stated). Dust Jacket: Near Fine. An unclipped jacket, in a mylar protective wrapper which was designed by John Updike himself. Hardcover: Near Fine. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1984. No writing or markings in this beautifully preserved edition, 307 pp. Dark lavender cloth covered boards with; silver lettering and graphics on front panel, gilt and silver lettering and silver graphics on spine.
Updike writes about a small New England town in the late 1960's, where three witches lived. Alexandra Spofford, a sculptress, Jane Smart, a cellist, and Sukie Rougemont, the local gossip columnist. Their supernatural gifts were intriguing, to say the least. Divorced but hardly celibate, content but always ripe for adventure, one day all three witches found themselves under the spell of a new man in town, Darryl Van Horne.
One of Updike's most successful novels, both as literature and popularity. This was his 28th book and 11th novel. A Near Fine first printing of the first Trade edition (preceded only by a privately published Franklin Library edition).
The story was adapted by Hollywood (Warner Brothers, 1987, starring Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Veronica Cartwright), and Updike followed this success with a second narrative (sequel) The Widows of Eastwick in 2008. The film was directed by George Miller.
