Lagerkvist, Par (Ferlinghetti, Lawrence)

The Sibyl

ISBN: 0394702409
New York, NY, USA: Vintage Books, 1958. First American Edition. Softcover. From the library of Lawrence Ferlinghetti, with his stylized ownership initial & date. “In a little house on the mountain slopes above Delphi lived an old woman with her witless son. The house consisted of a single room; one wall was the mountain side itself, and always dripped with moisture. It was really not a house at all, but a ramshackle hut which herdsmen had built for themselves. It stood quite alone away up in the wild mountain, high above the buildings of the city and above the sacred precincts of the temple. The woman seldom left the house, her son never. He sat within, in the half-light, smiling to himself as he had always done; he was now well into middle age and his lank hair had begun to turn gray. But his face was untouched; it was as it had always been, without any real features in its beardless, down childishness, only that queer, perpetual smile. The old woman’s face was furrowed and austere, and swarthy, as if it had been touched by fire; her eyes had the look of eyes that have seen god.”--Par Lagerkvist, pg. 1. Par Lagerkvist (1891-1974) was a Swedish poet, playwright, novelist, and novelist. Lagerkvist was widely hailed as one of the greatest writers of the last century; not only was he dearly loved by critics and readers alike, but Lagerkvist was awarded a Nobel Prize in literature in 1951 for “for the artistic vigour and true independence of mind with which he endeavours in his poetry to find answers to the eternal questions confronting mankind.” The author of a number of incredible works including: Själarnas maskerad (The Masquerade of Souls) (1930); Dvärgen (The Dwarf) (1944); Barabbas (1950), widely considered Lagerkvist’s masterpiece; Ahasverus död (The Death of Ahasuerus) (1960); and Det heliga landet (The Holy Land) (1964) Lagerkvist was a master of the written word and swam deeply in the oceanic depths of the human experience. Offered today is the 1956 novel, The Sibyl. The Sibyl is a powerful, poetic, and moving parable, the Wandering Jew of medieval Christian legend journeys to Delphi to consult the famed oracle of the pagans. He is turned away but not before learning that one of the most adept of the old priestesses, or sibyls, lives in disgrace in the mountains above the temple. In her rude goat-hut he seeks the meaning of his disastrous brush with the son of God. She reveals that she, too, has been touched by the son of a god, a very different son, not quite human, born of her own body. He dwells with her as a constant reminder of the betrayal of her mystical and erotic union with the divine, her punishment, and perhaps her redemption. One of Lagerkvist’s most well-loved novels, The Sibyl is just as powerful, moving, and insightful as it was when it was released. Ethereal, lyrical, and absolutely dripping with pathos, The Sibyl is a powerhouse of a novel and one of Lagerkvist’s best works. From the collection of the late, great Lawrence Ferlinghetti, (1919-2021) Canonical poet & founder of City Lights Books, publisher of many Beat Generation writers. Signed & dated at half title page in thin black ink by Lawrence Ferlinghetti “F (his signature stylized ‘f’) / 2/01.” Softcover. First U.S. edition with reference to a previous Swedish edition “1956, by Par Lagerkvist under the title Sibyllan / originally published in Sweden” as stated at copyright page, presumed first printing though not explicated as such thereon. In very fine condition with very little wear to fine edges, light smudging to front and back covers, and minor discoloration due to age to interior pages. Very Fine. [Item #8114]

Price: $30.00