"SECURES HIS PLACE AT THE VERY FRONT OF AMERICAN WRITERS OF FICTION"

FAULKNER, William. Light in August. (New York): Harrison Smith & Robert Haas, (1932). Octavo, original beige cloth, original dust jacket. $8500.

First edition, first issue of one of Faulkner's most powerful and ambitious novels, a splendid copy.

Published a year after his controversial Sanctuary, Faulkner's tale of Joe Christmas and Lena Grove received almost universal acclaim. The New York Times called it "an astonishing performance… Light in August is a powerful novel, a book which secures Mr. Faulkner's place at the very front of American writers of fiction" (Books of the Century, 100-01). "A searing novel… For the first time in his writing, Faulkner directly confronts racial prejudice in the South… Light in August is perhaps best read as Faulkner's ironic Gospel" (Parini, 178-83). First issue, with first printing statement on copyright page, and "Jefferson" for "Mottstown" on page 340, line 1; first-issue binding, lettered in blue and orange. Without glassine wrapper, rarely found. Petersen A13.1a. Brodsky 134. Bruccoli & Clark I:122.

Book fine; lightest toning to spine, minute edge-wear to colorful about-fine dust jacket.