Wambaugh, Joseph

The Onion Field

New York, NY: Delacorte Press, 1973. First Edition. Hardcover. Hand-dated, inscribed & signed by Joseph Wambaugh. "The reader of this book will, after the first overwhelming emotional assault, be forced to ask if it could really be true. The answer is yes. In his first work of nonfiction, Joseph Wambaugh presents his strongest, most important book. It is the vivid story of an incredible murder and its aftermath- a murder that led to the longest, most intricate court case in California's history. Here is a book as thorough as In Cold Blood and as unique as the events it describes." (from front flap) The acclaimed, now-classic true crime case study by Joseph Wambaugh, a Los Angeles Police Detective who had published two popular police-related novels before turning to non-fiction. With a laudatory blurb by non-fiction true crime & literary master Truman Capote next to photograph of Wambaugh on back cover of dust jacket which reads: "Mr. Wambaugh's The Onion Field is a distinguished contribution toward the gradually enlarging field of the 'factual novel.' A fascinating account of a double tragedy: One physical, the other psychological." This work was the basis of the 1979 film starring James Woods in an unforgettable performance as the real-life ultra-villainous murderer Gregory Powell. Offered here is the first edition, first printing as stated on copyright page, hardcover in clipped original dust jacket. On the blank, appropriately blood-red front free endpaper, Wambaugh has hand-written: 3 Aug(ust) 1987/ To Nicole,/ Try to see/ the movie. Its good./ All best,/ (signed) Joseph Wambaugh." A riveting, best-selling masterpiece; & a highly desirable collectible with Wambaugh's inscription that refers to the film. Book in fine condition with only very light rubbing & smudging to black cloth front, back covers & spine; very light wear & a bit of fading to edges & corners of same; very slight loss of gilt in spine lettering with no loss of legibility; slight rubbing, spotting, & a few faint marks to edges of text block; fading & small-medium areas of loss to red dye at upper edge of same. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps at corners of a few page leaves. Dust jacket in fine condition with very mild rubbing, scratching & a few short, faint creases to front, back covers & spine; mild-to-moderate wear & some bumps with very slight loss of paper at edges & corners of same; very slight browning & edgewear at flaps. An extra handling fee will be added for shipping due to the weight of this item. Fine / Fine. [Item #3425]

Price: $250.00