[Item #5288] Vanity of Duluoz. Jack Kerouac.
Vanity of Duluoz
Vanity of Duluoz
Vanity of Duluoz
Vanity of Duluoz
Vanity of Duluoz

Vanity of Duluoz

New York, NY: Coward-McCann, Inc., 1968. First Edition. Hardcover. "Football, war, and murder- these are the catalytic forces in this stunning new novel by Jack Kerouac which traces the adventures of a young man coming of age in the American 1930's & '40's." (from front flap) The last novel published during the lifetime of Jack Kerouac (1922-1969), Founding Father of the Beat Generation, in the year before his death. A fictionalized memoir as are almost all his works, this book, sub-titled "An Adventurous Education, 1935-46" (title page) recounts the early experiences of the author from childhood through young adulthood. The nucleus of the Beat Generation in NYC during the early-mid 1940s is featured in his reminiscences, including the notorious murder of David Kammerer ("Franz Mueller") by Lucien Carr ("Claude de Maubris") in which Kerouac ("Jack Duluoz"), William S. Burroughs ("Will Hubbard") et al. became involved as accessories after-the-fact. A look back, a summing up of youth from the perspective of the tragically sodden middle age of a legendary life soon to end. Offered here is the first edition, hardcover in clipped but first-issue dust jacket (with "6801" printed on front flap), first printing with no references to further printings on copyright page. Charters, A25(a), pg. 47. A sad but important, indeed essential rarity for the Kerouac collector. Book in relatively fine condition with only very light rubbing, fading & browning esp. at/near edges of front & rear cover boards; black cloth spine slightly faded with gilt letters, graphics somewhat dulled but intact; a bit of wear at edges & esp. corners; light rubbing, browning & occasional spotting to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only a touch of browning mostly to blank margins/edges of page leaves. Dust jacket near-fine with light rubbing, scratching & browning to front, back covers, spine & flaps; light wear & some tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; gathering of small creases, closed tears at upper left spine side edge/corner, upper right margin/edge of back cover (tape repair at blank inner cover at this area completely invisible on outer cover); very small area of tape-residue at lower rear flap edge, corner onto lower left edge/corner of back cover. Fine / Near Fine. [Item #5288]

Price: $250.00