MIAMI BLUES - UNCORRECTED PROOF COPY, INSCRIBED BY ELMORE LEONARD
New York: St. Martin's Press, 1984. First Edition. Scarce uncorrected proof copy of Willeford's first Hoke Moseley novel. Though Willeford's career started in the late 1940's, fame came to him later in life, and that fame was brought about by the publication of 'Miami Blues.' Among the highest advance praise for his novel came from Elmore Leonard, who wrote: "Willeford, writing with quiet authority, has the ability to make his situations, scenes, dialogue, sound absolutely real. No one writes a better crime novel than Charles Willeford." A uniquely-inscribed copy by one of Willeford's earliest advocates, and the only proof copy we have seen for this title. Basis for the 1990 George Armitage film starring Alec Baldwin, Fred Ward, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Item #1585
Octavo; dark yellow wrappers printed in black; 190pp. Inscribed by Leonard on the half-title page: "To Ian Clark / from a friend of Chas. Willeford / Elmore Leonard." Trifle wear to extremities, slight upward life to front wrapper, with faint spotting to rear wrapper; Very Good+ to Near Fine.
Price: $650.00