Adam's Rib: A Defense of Modern Woman

Ruth Herschberger

Published by Pellegrini & Cudahy, 1948

About this Item

Offered here is a rare first edition and first printing of Adam's Rib: A Defense of Modern Woman by Ruth Herschberger, published by Pellegrini & Cudahy in 1948. This is a scarce hardcover edition with its original dust jacket, making it a notable find for collectors of feminist literature and mid-century American social commentary. The book itself is in Near Fine condition, with a tight binding and hinges, and the text is attractive, clean, and unmarked throughout. There is a previous price in pencil on the top of the front endpaper, but otherwise the interior is very well preserved. The edges of the textblock show a few very small, minor blemishes, and there is a bit of spotting on the spine fabric of the hardcover. The dust jacket is housed in a protective Demco mylar book jacket cover. The jacket itself is in Poor+ condition, with many small holes along the surface and some large chunks missing, though it remains in one piece. The jacket spine ink is rubbed off in many spots, and there are dampstains and other blemishes on the surface. The jacket flaps are in good shape, except for the tips of the top edges, which are mostly ripped off.

Adam's Rib is a pioneering feminist work that challenged the prevailing scientific and cultural narratives about women in the mid-20th century. Ruth Herschberger, a biologist and poet, used sharp wit and rigorous analysis to critique the essentialist reductionism that defined women's roles in society, arguing that womanhood was a social construct rather than a biological destiny. Her work prefigured and influenced later feminist thinkers, including Simone de Beauvoir, and is recognized as a foundational text in the history of feminist thought.

Seller Inventory # ABE-1761677826878

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Adam's Rib: A Defense of Modern Woman
• Publisher: Pellegrini & Cudahy
• Publication Date: 1948
• Language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Printing: 1st Printing
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Poor