Deception [*SIGNED*]

Roth, Philip

Published by Simon and Schuster (c.1990), New York, 1990

About this Item

[the book itself is flawless; the jacket shows only the tiniest traces of handling wear]. INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the author on the title page: "For Kitaj -- / from his struggling / friend -- / P.R. / London / March 1990." Novel about "a married, middle-aged American named Philip living in London and the married Englishwoman who is his mistress." A very nice association copy; the inscribee was artist R.B. Kitaj, who became a close friend after the two met in London in 1985. Kitaj had positioned himself as an explicitly Jewish artist from the 1970s onward, and it's been noted that much of his thinking, particularly on the question of his Jewish identity, was influenced and inspired by Roth's writings. Kitaj executed a portrait of the writer, in charcoal on handmade paper, around the time they met, which was singled out for praise when it was included in the Tate Gallery's 1994 retrospective of the artist's work. Both that portrait and another, done in charcoal on canvas a few years later, were retained by the artist until his death in 2007. Roth, for his part, incorporated elements of Kitaj's personality into characters in several of his books, most explictly that of puppeteer Mickey Sabbath in his 1995 novel "Sabbath's Theater." The 2018 Arion Press edition of Roth's "Exit Ghost" was illustrated with thirteen of Kitaj's paintings and two of his drawings, a design choice made with the understanding and approval of Roth, although he died before the book went into production. Signed by Author. Seller Inventory # 27328

Bibliographic Details

Title: Deception [*SIGNED*]

Publisher: Simon and Schuster (c.1990), New York

Publication Date: 1990

Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Illustrated by (dj design) Lawrence Ratzkin

Condition: Fine

Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine dj

Signed: Signed by Author(s)

Edition: First Edition.