Stein, Gertrude

Three Lives

Norfolk, CT: New Directions, 1941. First American Edition Thus. Hardcover. "Three Lives has had a curious history. First published in 1909 by the Grafton Press, reissued a little later by John Lane, and republished more recently still by the Boni Brothers, this book of short stories has consistently maintained a striking underground reputation....I must have been introduced to the little volume in 1912 or thereabouts. I recall certainly that I became enthusiastic about it immediately and since that distant day I have tried in many ways to communicate my enthusiasm to others....Usually I know, if I can persuade a person to read it, that he will automatically join that rapidly enlarging group of Gertrude Stein's disciples" (from Introduction, by Carl Van Vechten). A beautiful early publication by James Laughlin's (1914-1997) New Directions, Gertrude Stein's (1874-1946) "Three Lives" was written not long after Stein first arrived in Paris in 1903. As the front flap copy notes, "Three Lives tells the story of three plain and humble women--The Good Anna and The Gentle Lena, both household servants, and Melanctha, a young colored girl involved in an unhappy love affair....Three Lives was the revolutionary explosion that started the reverse trend which produced the lean, hard styles of Hemingway, Sherwood Anderson, Williams and their countless followers. Few books have done more valuable service." Intrigued? I know we are! Hardcover in unclipped dust-jacket: First American Edition Thus, although not explicated as such on copyright page. Book in near fine condition with only moderate-to-enunciated shelf-wear, bumping to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine; typical age-toning, yellowing along fine-edges of same; a few exhibits of pronounced rubbing & closed chipping to front boards, limited to the space along rightmost fine-edge of front cover. Dust-jacket in Very Good condition with moderate-to-enunciated shelf-wear, bumping, rubbing to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine; moderate-to-pronounced rubbing, chipping & tiny tears at select exhibits of same; faint pencil markings of previous owner to back cover to the right of their listing in the New Directions catalog-list that occupies the work's back cover. Near Fine / Very Good. [Item #5223]

Price: $55.00