Kennedy, William

The Ink Truck

ISBN: 067039825X
New York, NY: Viking Penguin Inc., 1984. First Edition Thus. Hardcover. "This republication of The Ink Truck returns to print the first novel by the celebrated Bard of Albany, William Kennedy- a rollicking, lusty, metaphysical comedy about a newspaper strike pursued at quixotic length. Bailey, the heroically buffoonish protagonist of this novel, is a former columnist for, and now a full-time striker against, a newspaper in a medium-size American city. An inspired rhetorician but a clumsy tactician, he commands a ragtag remnant of four strikers, the rest of his guild having- cravenly, in Bailey's view- capitulated after a long and futile struggle. Bailey's schemes against the company...inevitably backfire, spiraling him and his dwindling corporal's guard into ever wider and more surreal misadventures." (from front flap) The first novel by William Kennedy (1928- ), the great American novelist, screenwriter & nonfiction author who is still with us at the age of 93 as of this writing. Originally published in 1969, this is the 1984 reissue presented upon Kennedy's having won the Pulitzer Prize that year for Ironweed, the third of his acclaimed eight-volume (& counting?) "Albany Cycle" that takes place in his beloved hometown, the Capital City of New York State. Hardcover in unclipped first-issue dust jacket (with $15.95, 8.95 British Pounds & "09153584" printed on front flap), first edition thus, presumed first printing with no references to further printings per custom of this publisher. A foundational Kennedy classic in its penultimately rarest form. Book in very fine condition with only a touch of wear & fading to edges & corners of front, back covers & spine; moderate spotting to upper edge of text block; much less at side & lower edges of same. Interior very fine with only mild spotting to blank paste-downs & endpapers, otherwise substantially mint. Dust jacket fine with mild rubbing, browning, scratching & a few short, faint creases to front, back covers, spine & flaps; a bit of wear & some tiny bumps, creases at thin edges & corners of same; several very short, closed tears at upper spine-edge. Very Fine / Fine. [Item #4763]

Price: $60.00