Ackerman, Diane

Lady Faustus with: Ephemera

ISBN: 0688023967
New York, NY, USA: William Morrow and Company, 1983. First Edition. Hardcover. Signed note in card envelope included. Diane Ackerman (b. 1948) is described as a poet, essayist, and naturalist with seven volumes of poetry and fifteen nonfiction books published since 1976, and her subjects have varied far and wide with whatever peaks her intellectual or creative curiosity. Lady Faustus is her third volume of poetry, and the poems here are themed around flying and learning to fly, both literally and metaphorically, inspired by Ackerman’s own flying lessons. A handwritten card from Ackerman to Laurence Goldstein (1943-2023), poet, editor, and professor at the University of Michigan, from whose collection we obtained this volume, is enclosed in its original envelope postmarked “15 May 2006” with a return address in Ithaca, NY and a lizard sticker sealing the flap. The exterior of the card features a watercolor illustration of flamingos, and the note within the card is also dated “May 2006” and signed “love across the miles / Diane.” She writes that she had just sent off a manuscript after a two year hiatus, most likely her 2007 book The Zookeeper’s Wife: A War Story which was adapted into the 2017 movie of the same name directed by Niki Caro and starring Jessica Chastain. Hardcover in unclipped dust jacket: first edition, as stated on copyright page, first printing, as indicated by number sequence thereon. Book is in relatively very fine condition with minimal bumping to the edges and corners of front, back covers and spine; first front endpaper has a line of scribbles (presumably) obscuring an inscription of some sort; otherwise, interior is substantially mint. Dust jacket is in relatively near fine condition with mild-to-moderate age-toning along top and bottom edges of covers and flaps; mild bumping to the fine edges and corners of front, back covers and spine; mild bending to flaps; mild-to-moderate rubbing/scratching to covers. Very Fine / Near Fine. [Item #7769]

Price: $45.00