Mailer, Norman | A signed copy of the author's greatest novel

Mailer, Norman

The Naked and the Dead. New York: Rinehart and Company, Inc., 1948

8vo (207 x 137 mm). Signed on the title-page, publisher's "R" within circle on the colophon; very lightly toned at margins. Publisher's black cloth, spine lettered in white; head and tail of spine bumped, rubbing at extremities, remnants of adhesive from rear pastedown on board, edges lightly toned. In the original printed dustjacket by Karov, with "$4.00" on the front inside flap and the photographic portrait of Mailer on the rear panel; light browning to spine panel, rear panel, and inside flaps, tiny nicks to head and tail of spine panel, slight wear along joints.

First edition, signed by the author. Based on Mailer's experiences in the Philippines during World War II, the novel follows the story of an army platoon for the fictional island of Anopopei. "The narrative presents, with great accuracy and power, the agony of the American troops in the Pacific campaign It remains Mailer’s best, and certainly the best war novel to emerge from the United States" (Burgess, 42-43).

REFERENCE:

Burgess, Anthony, Ninety-Nine Novels, 1984