WHEN SHE WAS GOOD - DEDICATION COPY, INSCRIBED TO ALISON LURIE
New York: Random House, 1967. First Edition. Roth's third book, and his only novel with a female protagonist – "a Midwestern girl who believes herself to be the moral superior of her family and friends, and how she and those around her are destroyed when she sets out to prove that in matters of right and wrong she is the ultimate authority" (from front flap). A significant association copy inscribed to Alison Lurie (1926-2020), winner of the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and the second of eight printed dedicatees noted by Roth. When Lurie was interviewed by Liz Lear in 1988 and asked if any other writers had been supportive of her work, or if there was one in particular to whom she owed a debt of gratitude, she mentioned Edward Hower, Diane Johnson, and Roth. "Philip Roth has also been most helpful. He read a number of my earlier books and his constructive criticism was invaluable" (Key West Review, Vol.1, No.1, Spring 1988). Roth was known for not inscribing books casually, and those with inscriptions of a close, meaningful nature, have never been plentiful. Item #5745
First Printing. Octavo (21.75cm); navy blue cloth, with titling and author's initials stamped in gilt, metallic blue, red, and green on spine and front cover; pink topstain; dustjacket; [x],306,[4]pp. One of eight possible dedication copies, inscribed on the dedication page prior to publication to Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alison Lurie (appearing there under her married name, Alison Bishop): "New York, Feb. 1967 / To Alison – For helping me over the hurdle of page 43 – & other kindnesses / Fondly, Philip." Light wear to spine ends, gentle sunning to crown, with some faint foxing to upper edge of textblock, and some faint, scattered stains to upper margins of a few terminal leaves; Very Good+. Dustjacket is unclipped (priced $5.95), modest wear to extremities, with a few small tears and attendant creases, and a few faint spots of soil to spine ends and rear panel; Very Good+.
Price: $3,500.00