Kurt Vonnegut's absurdist classic Slaughterhouse-Five introduces us to Billy Pilgrim, a man who becomes 'unstuck in time' after he is abducted by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore. In a plot-scrambling display of virtuosity, we follow Pilgrim simultaneously through all phases of his life, concentrating on his (and Vonnegut's) shattering experience as an American prisoner of war who witnesses the firebombing of Dresden.
Slaughterhouse-Five is not only Vonnegut's most powerful book, it is also as important as any written since 1945. Like Catch-22, it fashions the author's experiences in the Second World War into an eloquent and deeply funny plea against butchery in the service of authority. Slaughterhouse-Five boasts the same imagination, humanity, and gleeful appreciation of the absurd found in Vonnegut's other works, but the book's basis in rock-hard, tragic fact gives it unique poignancy -- and humor.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Don't let the ease of reading fool you--Vonnegut's isn't a conventional, or simple, novel. He writes, "There are almost no characters in this story, and almost no dramatic confrontations, because most of the people in it are so sick, and so much the listless playthings of enormous forces. One of the main effects of war, after all, is that people are discouraged from being characters..." Slaughterhouse-Five (taken from the name of the building where the POWs were held) is not only Vonnegut's most powerful book, it is as important as any written since 1945. Like Catch- 22, it fashions the author's experiences in the Second World War into an eloquent and deeply funny plea against butchery in the service of authority. Slaughterhouse-Five boasts the same imagination, humanity, and gleeful appreciation of the absurd found in Vonnegut's other works, but the book's basis in rock-hard, tragic fact gives it a unique poignancy--and humor.
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. Twenty-fifth Anniversary edition, later printing. Fine in about fine dustwrapper. Seller Inventory # 456662
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. First Edition. the jacket is a little edge worn and shelf rubbed. unfortunately tape was used underneath the jacket and the residue from this has left shadows on the jacket where the tape was. the book has a book exchange stamp mark and 2 ink prices (one crossed through). a little very mild foxing. the spine is a touch faded. the binding is excellent. the jacket is not price clipped. first issue. Our orders are shipped using tracked courier delivery services. Seller Inventory # fh2721b
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Good. 1970 Jonathan Cape hardcover early reprint. Light reading wear, price-clipped dustjacket else very good condition. Seller Inventory # WG-ZSZI-1A3K
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. First British edition, second impression (states on copyright page: "reprinted 1970"). Near fine with spine slightly cocked in a near fine dustwrapper with spine a touch faded, modest edgewear, rear flap creased. Seller Inventory # 389590
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. 1st Edition. True first British printing with original unclipped jacket (30s/£1.50). Jacket has faults - namely edge/shelf wear, a few small (largest approx. 1cm) tears, very small patchy loss (mainly to head/tail of spine and to corners), creasing/rubbing to edges, a little fading to spine, a few small scratches, the odd spot of foxing, pushing/rubbing to head/tail of spine, patchy browning/little dustiness/minor foxing to reverse (white side), pushing/bumping to corners, little rubbing/creasing/odd small marks to front/back inner flaps and is in only good condition. Boards are very good (having been well protected by the jacket) with a little patchy browning, minor pushing to corners, a little patchy rubbing to edges and a little pushing/rubbing/bumping to head/tail of spine. Pages are generally clean and the binding is tight. Pages little tanned. Previous owner's name, date and location in pen inside front board. Odd small marks/spots of foxing to page edges, tops and bottoms. End-papers bit tanned with the odd small mark/minor foxing. Occasional small marks/spots of foxing to pages. No other faults. All books described honestly and accurately. Paypal accepted. Seller Inventory # 008537
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Very Good. book. Seller Inventory # D7S9-1-M-0224618016-4
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. Bryan Rowell (Jacket design) (illustrator). First UK Edition. First printing of the first UK edition, preceded by the first American edition, published by Delacorte Press, New York the preceding year. Jacket design by Bryan Rowell. ***Very good in bright green cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The boards are clean and unmarked. Tail of spine slightly creased. Corners sharp. Fore-edge of text-block slightly marked (please see scans). No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Internally also very good, with no inscriptions. Interior pages clean, with just a couple of slight finger marks to page margins. No creases or tears. ***In very good colour printed dustwrapper, which is complete, and has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's dual price of 30s / £1.50 net. As is usually found with this book, the extremities are slightly creased and rubbed, but far less than is normally found. There are some small nicks and rubbing, with a small closed tear at the top edge of the front panel. Spine lettering slightly faded from orange to pale yellow as is usually found. Dustwrapper otherwise bright. ***186 pages. 222mm x 144mm. ***'Kurt Vonnegut's latter-day Pilgrim's Progress, a miraculously moving, bitter and funny story of innocence faced with apocalypse, is the most original anti-war novel since Catch-22.' (Quote taken from the inside front flap of the dustwrapper). ***'Slaughterhouse-Five, also known as The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death is a science fiction infused anti-war novel by Kurt Vonnegut, first published in 1969. It follows the life and experiences of Billy Pilgrim, from his early years to his time as an American soldier and chaplain's assistant during World War II, to the post-war years, with Billy occasionally traveling through time. The text centers on Billy's capture by the German Army and his survival of the Allied firebombing of Dresden as a prisoner of war, an experience which Vonnegut himself lived through as an American serviceman. The work has been called an example of "unmatched moral clarity" and "one of the most enduring antiwar novels of all time"' (Wiki) ***A first printing of the first UK edition of Kurt Vonnegut's classic novel, in very good condition - much better than is usually found. A great novel of the Second World War. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc. Seller Inventory # 8670
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. No Jacket. 1st Edition, Special Edition. 1970 Jonathan Cape Hardback 1st edition 1st impression. Near fine clean tight copy. This 1st edition is a modern leather binding. The striking design depicts the firebombing of Dresden. With marbled endpapers, from the library of "Kilgour Trout". Seller Inventory # ABE-1672402317311