JR • William Gaddis • First Edition/First Printing • Signed By Gaddis • 1975. Shipped with USPS Media Mail.

JR by William Gaddis. First edition and First Printing. Signed and Dated by Gaddis with gorgeous custom made clamshell collectors case. Softcover released simultaneously with hardcover edition. Bold and beautiful signature which is Very rare as Gaddis very rarely signed books so this one is a treat!

Published 20 YEARS after his first novel The Recognitions. National Book Award Winner in 1976, this book, which one critic called, “…the greatest satirical novel in American literature”, tells the tale of one J R Vansant, a 11 year old Schoolboy who, in buying penny stocks, the orders of which were placed using payphones and postal money orders, becomes a millionaire (at least on paper)! What I love about it, is its told almost entirely in dialogue which can cause confusion as at times its not clear which character is speaking. Gaddis would later say that this was done intentionally so as to give the reader the feeling of collaboration in the process of creating the characters (brilliant IMO). Real life experiences shape a good bit of the novel and in particular, the landscape. Gaddis creates a version of Massapequa, NY that is run down and decrepit with a corrupt and inept school board. Another fun anecdote, is that Gaddis said (in jest?) that JR was written as revenge against the Massapequa school board who had, in his real life, had seized a great deal of his property by the use of Eminent Domain by the School Board of that very real life town.

Back to the actual book. NF with small shallow crease to cover and trivial shelfwear. Taut and unworn binding and spine. Custom Clamshell case in Fine state. Gaddis’s signature has become uncommon in the marketplace and this example is absolutely fantastic.

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Knopf

1975

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