E.E. Cummings | The Enormous Room, New York, 1922, first edition, first state, inscribed by the author

E.E. Cummings

The Enormous Room. New York: Boni and Liveright, [1922]

FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE ("Shit!" present on final line of p. 219), INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR, 8vo, original boards, dust-jacket, dust-jacket split at folds and missing substantial chip on lower right corner of upper panel

Cummings's first book, a novel based on his internment by the French during WW1. Inscribed by the author to Michael and Claire—unidentified recipients—and rare thus. Cummings' signature is in a different ink from the inscription, but both are in his hand. Cummings volunteered for the Norton-Harjes Ambulance Corps and went to France in 1917. His letters home, expressing anti-war sentiments, were intercepted by censors and he was interned for suspected espionage, being held (with many others) in “an enormous room”.