The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

Second printing of the first edition. A fantastic association copy signed by Alex Haley on the front free endpaper and inscribed to his editor Murray Fisher, "November 1965 / To my dear friend, Murray, whose inherent genuineness kept 'getting to' Malcolm X, until, finally, Malcolm would ask me how was (and eventually, even, he would write letters to) 'That Fisher fellow -' with respect and warmth - [signed] Alex." Fisher was Haley's longtime editor, who helped greatly shape his best-known works, Roots, as well as this title, The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Fisher edited several of Haley's interviews for Playboy before leaving the magazine and Chicago in 1974, moving to Los Angeles to help Haley edit his epic, Roots. Haley thanked him in the acknowledgments when the book was published in 1976: "Murray Fisher had been my editor for years at Playboy magazine when I solicited his clinical expertise to help me structure this book from a seeming impassable maze of researched materials. After we had established Roots pattern of chapters, next the story line was developed, which he then shepherded throughout. [.] Finally, in the book's pressurized completion phase, he even drafted some of Roots scenes, and his brilliant editing pen steadily tightened the book's great length." Haley was completely overwhelmed by working on Roots, at one point, he expected the book to be published in three volumes spanning over 1800 pages. Fisher spent six years to organizing and polish the massive amounts of research material Haley gathered for Roots. Fisher came to play such an important role in developing Roots that Haley gave him ten percent of the book's literary rights and five percent of the motion picture rights. According to historian Robert J. Norrell, "Haley wrote the two most influential books in African-American history in the second half of the 20th century," Norrell notes, referring to The Autobiography of Malcolm X (1965) and Roots: The Saga of an American Family (1976). "Each of his books sold at least six million copies, and the films made from them were viewed and appreciated by the masses of America." 455 pp. Bound in publisher's black cloth with spine lettered in gilt. Very Good with cloth lightly worn at corners and spine ends, lightly soiled and with light surface wear at the upper board. Contents tanned. Offsetting to endsheets with browning at the rear from a formerly laid in clipping. A very important association copy inscribed to a pivotal figure in Haley's career and who had a hand in the production of this book.…