Libby, Lewis

The Apprentice (Two Signed Editions)

ISBN: 1555972454;0312284
St. Paul, MN; New York, NY: Graywolf Press; Thomas Dunne Books/ St. Martin's Griffin, 1996; 2002. First Hardcover Edition; First Softcover Edition. Hardcover; Softcover. First hardcover & softcover editions, first printings, both signed by Lewis Libby. 'At a remote mountain inn in the northenmost reaches of Japan, a raging blizzard has brought together wayfarers who share only fear, distrust, and suspicion of one another. In the winter of 1903, the country is beset with smallpox and war is brewing between Japan & Russia. Strangers have been seen in the woods surrounding the inn and the small village nearby. In the flickering shadows of the crowded rooms, the apprentice, charged with running the inn during the owner's absence, finds himself strongly attracted to one of the performers lodged there. His involvement with the mysterious travelers plunges him headlong into a snow-clouded arena of violence and passion. Murder, first love, and heart-stopping chases through the snow drive the apprentice deeper into the entangled plottings of his enigmatic guests." (from front flap, hardcover edition) The first & only novel by Lewis Libby (nicknamed "Scooter"), who became the Chief-of-Staff & National Security Advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney during the administration of George W. Bush five years after it was first published, became mired in scandal & was convicted (his sentence was commuted by President Bush). This exciting historical novel was acclaimed by some reviewers, including John Podhoretz in The New York Times. We offer two editions in one rare bundle: (1) First hardcover edition in original unclipped dust jacket, first printing as indicated by numerical sequence on copyright page, issued by Graywolf Press in 1996. On the title page, Libby has hand-written his signature in blue felt-tip ink. (2) First softcover edition, trade format, first printing again as indicated by numerical sequence on copyright page, published by Thomas Dunne Books/ St. Martin's Griffin during February 2002. On the title page of this edition, Libby has also hand-written his signature (more boldly than (1) above) in blue felt-tip ink. Also in this edition is some interesting ephemera we found & have kept between inner front cover & front endpaper: A bookmark from the Books First booksellers in Washington, D.C.; & a printout Abebooks sale form, single sheet folded horizontally in half, dated October 20, 2005 (right around the time of Libby's conviction, soon after which a second mass-market softcover edition was published to take advantage of publicity surrounding him). A most interesting collectible bundle; & a novel of genuine literary merit unrelated to the author's notoriety in other areas. (1) Book in very fine condition, virtually as-new inside & out. Dust jacket very fine with only a bit of rubbing & a few tiny spots to front, back covers & spine; a few tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; publisher's (or seller's) oval sticker with illustration noting this is an "autographed copy" near lower right corner of front cover hardly effecting image. (2) in very fine condition with only light rubbing to front, back covers & spine; mildest wear & a few tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; a touch of light browning to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only very slight browning at blank margins & edges of page leaves; tiny bumps at corners of a few of same. Ephemera in very fine condition with only a few tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of document; seller's bookmark substantially mint. Very Fine / Very fine. [Item #3432]

Price: $100.00