Faulkner, William

The Marble Faun.  Boston: Four Seas Company, 1924

8vo (7 1/2 x 5 1/8 in.; 190 x 130 mm).  Publisher's mottled green boards, printed paper label on spine, printed label with vignette on front cover; head of spine rubbed, foot of spine chipped, some fading to edges, ink stain at lower edges of both covers, stains from cellotape on endpapers, front inner hinge starting.  Original cream dust jacket printed in green, pictorial vignette on front cover; some soiling, heavily restored.  Half green morocco slipcase, spine gilt-lettered, green buckram sides and chemise.

Eula Dorothy Wilcox (presentation inscriptions) — William Boozer

Blotner, Faulkner: A Biography, 1, pp. 196, 235, 236, 238, 543 and 2, p. 1373; Massey 743; Peterson A1.1

Condition as described in catalogue entry.
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A highly important presentation copy of William Faulkner's first book, inscribed twice by him and also inscribed by Phil Stone, author of the preface, to Dot Wilcox.  A souvenir of carefree days in the Delta and of a lasting friendship.  Faulkner first met Eula Dorothy Wilcox at a house party in Clarksdale, Mississippi, in the summer of 1914.  The vivacious young woman was an orphan from Oklahoma who had used a small inheritance to set herself up as a beautician in the Mississippi Delta. "The Poet" as Faulkner was called and his sidekick/mentor Phil Stone often made excursions to Clarksdale and Charleston, Mississippi, Memphis, and New Orleans, where they cultivated a wide circle of colorful friends.  Wilcox introduced Faulkner and Stone to Reno De Vaux, professional gambler and roadhouse proprietor, and bootlegger Walter Lee Bates.  It was through Dot Wilcox that Faulkner met the young woman who would tell him the horrific story that would become the basis for Sanctuary.  Of all these characters, it was Wilcox herself with whom Faulkner formed a lasting bond.  Early on in their friendship, he confided in her about his insecurities over his small stature.  She often fretted about his unkempt appearance.  On a 1919 trip to New Orleans, De Vaux bought Faulkner a new suit of clothes so he could accompany the gang to the Blue Room at the Roosevelt Hotel.  Dot took his old clothes and threw them out their hotel room window, attracting the police.  Dot also indulged Faulkner in his passion for deviled eggs.  He once helped Walter Lee Bates concoct a vat of home brew in Wilcox's backyard.  When he got hungry, he called out, "Put some devil in those eggs, Dot."

One evening in 1925, Faulkner and Phil Stone drove over for dinner with Wilcox, now living in Memphis.  They brought with them the present copy of The Marble Faun.  Both young men inscribed the front free endpaper, Faulkner writing at the top, "To Dorothy, In memory of many pleasant occasions.  Bill Faulkner"  and Stone at the bottem, "Best of luck to Dot.  Phil Stone."  In addition, Faulkner inscribed the title-page, "William Faulkner. 5 June 1925."   When the boys presented the book to Wilcox, Stone said, "Dot, you keep this book.  Someday this tramp will be famous."

Shortly after Faulkner accepted the Nobel Prize in December 1950, he met Wilcox for lunch in Memphis.  After they had ordered drinks, Faulkner asked her if she still had the inscribed copy of The Marble Faun.  When she said she did, Faulkner replied, "Don't let anyone get it away from you.  The tramp has become famous.  I was unhappy when I first met you, and I'm more so now than ever."

The book was acquired from Wilcox by William Boozer, author of William Faulkner's First Book: The Marble Faun Fifty Years Later (pub. Memphis, 1975).

Faulkner presentation copies are scarce.  The present copy of his first book inscribed twice, and also inscribed by Phil Stone, to an influential early friend is of great importance.