JR

William Gaddis

Published by Knopf, 1975

About this Item

JR by William Gaddis. First edition and First Printing. Association copy signed and Dated by Gaddis to Southampton native Luba Marks with gorgeous custom made clamshell collectors case. Luba Marks was a fashion designer and broadway performer and Long Island Native such as Gaddis was. Softcover released simultaneously with hardcover edition. 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, particularly early examples such as this one have become uncommon in the marketplace and the reclusive author wasn t a prolific signer in general. . Knopf 1975 . #JR #williamGaddis #therecognitions #satire #satiricalnovel #literaryfiction #JRgoestowashington #gaddis #booksandcoffee #bookstore #booklover #bookslover #bookstagramfeature #bookstack #booksofig #bookshelf #bookstagramer #bookstagram #books #bibliophile #bookaddict #booklife #bookcollection #rarebooks #bookstore #instabook #instabooks. Seller Inventory # 00000008

Bibliographic Details

Title: JR

Publisher: Knopf

Publication Date: 1975

Binding: Soft cover

Condition: Very Good

Signed: Inscribed by Author(s)

Edition: 1st Edition