"ILLUSION IS THE FINEST OF ALL PLEASURES" (OSCAR WILDE): PRESENTATION/ASSOCIATION FIRST EDITION OF THE ROBBER BRIDE, WARMLY INSCRIBED BY MARGARET ATWOOD TO HER CLOSE FRIEND AND MENTOR, AWARD-WINNING CANADIAN POET JAY MACPHERSON

ATWOOD, Margaret. The Robber Bride. (Toronto): McClelland & Stewart, (1993). Octavo, original green paper boards, original dust jacket. $750.

First edition of Atwood's novel about three women betrayed by another woman, a very memorable presentation/association copy inscribed by Atwood to the beloved Canadian writer Jay Macpherson, who was "a particularly strong influence" on her, wonderfully inscribed on the half title by Atwood as "Peggy" with a quote from Oscar Wilde, "For Jay—with love from Peggy 'illusion is the finest of all pleasures' —O. Wilde."

Atwood's "Robber Bride is a tale of small, private catastrophes. Its villain unleashes nothing grander than domestic and emotional violence. But it is vividly written, acutely observed and is very possibly the most intelligently tongue-in-cheek novel of the year" (Independent). "Robber Bride is as smart as anything Atwood has written, and she is always smart… [Atwood] retains her gift for observing, in poetry, the minutiae specific to the physical and emotional lives of her characters… Robber Bride is Atwood's funniest and most companionable book in years" (New York Times).

This memorable copy is inscribed by Atwood to award-winning poet Jay Macpherson. "A beloved figure in Toronto's literary circles," she was born in England and brought to Canada as a "war guest." As a professor at the Victoria College, University of Toronto, she "helped to foster the development of many, including her onetime student and friend Margaret Atwood" (Canadian Encyclopedia). Macpherson "was a particularly strong influence" on Atwood (Cooke, Margaret Atwood, 51), who honored her longtime friend and mentor in an address delivered at Macpherson's death. Recalling her "quiet acts of kindness… her mordant sense of humor," Atwood especially spoke to their shared love of the Gothic (My Tribute to Jay Macpherson). First edition, first printing, by Atwood's longstanding Canadian publisher; issued simultaneously with the American and English editions.

A fine presentation copy with a distinctive association.