Faulkner, John (Faulkner, William)

My Brother Bill: An Affectionate Reminiscence

New York, NY: Trident Press, 1963. First Edition. Hardcover. "William Faulkner, the writer, was a familiar figure to many, a gentle, shy and rather reserved man who, though tweedy, managed always, somehow, to appear dapper. He chose to mimimize his role as literary genius, preferring to refer to himself as a simple dirt farmer and resident of Oxford, MIssissippi, the prototype of the city of Jefferson, which appeared in almost everything he wrote. But if this William Faulkner was known to many, few ever got beyond that mask to the real Faulkner, a man who clung tenaciously to his privacy, or realized the true degree to which his family and the region that had borne him had molded his character and thinking. Of these, perhaps none knew him so well as his brother John, himself a writer and as deeply influenced by these same forces." (from front flap) The insightful, insider memoir of William Faulkner (1897-1962), the canonical American writer whose prolific & most influentially innovative works are now enshrined in the Library of America series; by his younger brother, author John Faulkner (1901-1963). As seen on the dust jacket photograph, the two brothers appeared almost identical, & they shared the upbringing & legacy of the old American South that was captured in their (especially William's) immortal literature. John passed away only nine months after his older brother, & this acclaimed memoir was published posthumously, though he was able to read & approve the galleys. Offered here is the first edition, first printing (though neither are explicated at copyright page), hardcover in unclilpped dust jacket (presumed first-issue with $4.95 price printed at front flap). A deep & rewarding William Faulkner-related collectible in its rarest original form. Book in fine-verging-on-very-fine condition with only slight wear & a few bumps, creases at edges & corners of brown-cloth front, back covers & spine (gilt lettering at spine appears completely bright & intact); mild rubbing, browning & occasional spotting to upper edge of text block; much less to side & lower edges of same. Interior very fine with circular embossed seal of previous owner near lower outer corners of first two blank white front page leaves; otherwise substantially mint. Dust jacket relatively near-fine with very slight rubbing, browning, fading & faint scratching to front, back covers, spine & flaps; a bit of wear & some tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; area of small spots & mostly closed tear-punctures at mid-lower spine with minor loss of paper, surface paper. Fine- Very Fine / Near Fine. [Item #5921]

Price: $45.00