Russo, Richard

The Risk Pool

ISBN: 0394565274
New York, NY: Random House, Inc., 1988. First Edition. Hardcover. "Richard Russo, author of the acclaimed Mohawk, returns to his mythical upstate New York town for this grand, old-fashioned novel about a roguish father and his introspective son. Sparkling with wit and heartbreaking in its intimate portrayal of a family torn asunder, The Risk Pool is a journey through the true facts of life- honor, ambition, conflict, deceit and ultimately redemption. The focus is on Sam Hall, a hell-raising, gambling sport who returns from the battlefields of World War II only to abandon his nervous wife, Jenny, and newborn baby, Ned. But a few years later, when the irresponsible Sam pops up and shanghais the boy...the real war between the Halls begins." (from front flap) The second novel by Richard Russo, the popular & prolific American author, screenwriter & academician who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his 2001 novel Empire Falls. The character Ned Hall grows up divided between his depressed mother & daredevil ne'er-do-well father, unresolvable opposites. Hardcover in unclipped first-issue dust jacket (with $19.95 price printed on front flap, "11/88" on rear flap), first edition as stated on copyright page, possible second printing as indicated by number sequence thereon beginning with "2," although first-issue jacket per above, remainder status (see below) & sometime-custom of this venerable publisher lead us to conclude this is likely a first printing. An essential Russo collectible, in its at least about-rarest original form. Book in near-fine condition with slight rubbing to front, back covers & spine; a bit of wear, fading & a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of same; very light browning to thin edges & corners of paper cover boards; moderate-to-significant loss of gilt lettering & graphics at spine; several faint, vertical wave-creases across same; mild rubbing, browning & moderate spotting to upper edge of text block; red felt-tip remainder mark across most of width of same near spine; moderate spotting to side edge of text block; much less & slight rubbing to lower edge of same. Interior fine with faint waving at/ near blank side margins & edges of a few page leaves; miniscule bleeding of spots noted above onto side edges of some of same. Dust jacket near-fine with mild rubbing, faint scratching to front, back covers & spine; light wear & some tiny bumps, creases at thin edges of same & flaps. An extra handling fee will be added for shipping due to the weight of this item. Near Fine / Near Fine. [Item #4679]

Price: $60.00