Agee, James

The Collected Short Prose of James Agee

Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1969. First Edition. Hardcover. "James Agee achieved the fame he deserved only after his tragically early death- of a heart attack, in a New York taxi- at forty-five...This book contains James Agee's previously uncollected prose: pieces ranging from Harvard days to his last years. In addition to short stories, there are notes for motion pictures (a medium that held deep fascination for him), scenarios, and plans for projected works which reveal the dizzying way in which fresh ideas competed for Agee's energies. This collection will be of immediate interest to old friends of his work. At the same time, thanks largely to Robert Fitzgerald’s luminous introductory memoir, it provides a splendid portrait, intimate and touching, of Agee himself, and a clear-headed assessment of his art." (from front flap) A collection of shorter writings spanning the career of James Agee (1909-1955), the great American novelist, journalist & film critic whose posthumously published autobiographical novel A Death in the Family (1957, see item No. 4469) won the Pulitzer Prize; & whose collaboration with photographer Walker Evans, Let Us Now Praise Famous Men (1941, see item No. 4564) stands among the canonical American classics. Edited & with an introductory memoir by Robert Fitzgerald (1910-1985), the distinguished American poet, critic & translator who was Agee's friend, colleague & fellow Harvard alumnus. Hardcover in unclipped first-issue dust jacket (with $5.95 price & "0269" printed on front flap), first edition, "First Printing W" as stated on copyright page. An essential & rewarding collectible for devotees of the incomparable James Agee, enriched with Fitzgerald’s insightful memoir. Book in fine condition with slight wear to edges & corners of front, back covers & spine (silver-gilt letters on spine & front cover completely bright & intact); light browning to side & lower edges of text block (the former untrimmed as issued); one very small spot at top side edge of same; very slight fading & a few very small mark-spots at black-dyed upper edge of same. Interior fine with mild rubbing, fading to blank green paste-downs & endpapers; a hint of browning at blank margins/edges of page leaves; small, faint creases at/near blank upper corners of some of same. Dust jacket relatively very fine with only very slight rubbing, browning to front, back covers, spine & flaps; a bit of wear & some tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; one small, faint crease at/near blank lower left corner of rear flap. Fine / Very Fine. [Item #5353]

Price: $45.00