THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY - INSCRIBED TO HENRY LUCE
New York: Albert & Charles Boni, 1927. First Edition. Wilder's second and best-known novel, centered around the inter-related histories of five people who plunge to their deaths in 18th century Peru, when an Inca rope bridge breaks. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1928, ranked as No.37 on The Modern Library's 100 Best Novels list, and basis for four film adaptations between 1929-2004. An excellent association copy, inscribed by Wilder to Henry Luce, whom he first met as a classmate at Yale. The men had a close but complicated lifelong friendship. Wilder introduced Luce to his first wife, Lila Ross Hotz, while they all attended Yale; Henry and Lila married in 1923, and had two children together. It was Amos Parker Wilder – a journalist, diplomat, and Thornton's father – who pulled Luce aside during his senior year and told him: "Harry, don't. Don't go into journalism. It will turn you into a cynic. It will turn your wine into vinegar. You will lose your soul" (Morrow, Lance. "Lost Souls: Reflections on the White House Correspondents' Dinner, by way of Henry Luce." May 1, 2018). Goldstone & Anderson B.i.2. Item #5025
First Printing. Octavo (21cm); powder grey cloth, with titling and pictorial elements stamped in black and hunter green on spine and front cover; lime green topstain; map endpapers; dustjacket; [14],15-235,[3]pp, with frontispiece and nine illustrations by Amy Drevenstedt. This copy belonged to American magazine magnate Henry Robinson Luce (1898-1967), with his ink ownership signature on the preliminary blank, and a March 24, 1928 inscription from Wilder to he and his wife, Lila, on the title page: "For Lila and Harry / With all my best / Thornt." Light wear to extremities, some softening to spine ends, spine gently sunned, with a 3/4" split to cloth at lower front joint, and some mild dust-soil to cloth; Very Good+. In a supplied dustjacket, unclipped (priced $2.50)gently spine-sunned and lightly dust-soiled, with some modest external wear, several tiny nicks and tears, a few shallow losses to spine ends, and a stain at upper rear panel; Very Good or better. Housed in a custom folding case.
Price: $6,500.00