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Appointment in Samarra
by O'Hara, John
- Used
- very good
- Paperback
- first
- Condition
- Very Good
- Seller
-
New York, New York, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1934 First edition, advance reading copy (ARC). Publisher's pictorial wrappers designed by Alfred Maurer, with the iconic deco design of a car driving through a hilled landscape in green, yellow, and black, lettered in yellow and black, and top of front flap priced at $2.50. Very good or better, with some light toning and wrinkling to spine, a few light nicks to edges, and a touch of thumbsoiling to p. 34. Overall, an attractive and sturdy copy. Housed in a custom black clamshell box. Appointment in Samarra tells the tragic story of protagonist Julian English as he delves into a downward spiral of self-destruction. Like the fast-paced plot, which takes place over the course of only three days, O'Hara wrote this novel in an expeditious four months when he was only twenty-eight years old. Although criticized for the candor with which he presented socially taboo sexual encounters, Appointment in Samarra is notable for propelling O'Hara to literary prominence. . First Edition. Original Wraps. Very Good.
Synopsis
At the ripe age of twenty-eight, John O’Hara completed Appointment in Samarra, his first novel, in less than four months. At a similarly quick pace, the events of the book take place in a span of just three days. In this brief time, Appointment in Samarra tells of the increasingly impulsive and self-destructive acts that lead to the main character’s suicide. Julian English, once a high-ranking member of the community of Gibbsville, angers and alienates those close to him, resulting in the rapid decline of his social status. Specific explanations for Julian’s behavior are unclear in the text, though personal insecurities along with his alcoholism undoubtedly play a role. The small-town prejudices of Gibbsville (O’Hara’s fictionalized version of his hometown, Pottsville, Pennsylvania) greatly affect Julian’s demise as well. Omniscient narration works to expose these prejudices via the inner thoughts of various people in the town. The title, Appointment in Samarra, is a reference to W. Somerset Maugham's 1933 retelling of an old story in his play, Sheppey. In the story, which appears as an epigraph for the novel, Death speaks of meeting a merchant in Samarra, informing the reader from the beginning of the novel’s fatal ending. In his foreword to the 1952 reprint, O'Hara says that the working title for the novel was The Infernal Grove. It was not until fellow writer Dorothy Parker showed him the story in Maugham's play that he got the idea for the title Appointment in Samarra. Modern Library ranked Appointment in Samarra 22nd on its list of the “100 Best” English-language novels of the 20th century.
Read More: Identifying first editions of Appointment in Samarra
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Details
- Seller
- B & B Rare Books, Ltd., ABAA
(US)
- Seller's Inventory #
- JOH013
- Title
- Appointment in Samarra
- Author
- O'Hara, John
- Format/Binding
- Paperback
- Book Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Publisher
- New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company
- Date Published
- 1934
- Bookseller catalogs
- Modern Firsts; American Literature; Fiction;
Terms of Sale
B & B Rare Books, Ltd., ABAA
~ All items are guaranteed as described. We recommend requesting pictures prior to purchasing. ~ Any items may be returned within seven days of receipt and in the same condition as originally sent. ~ We ship with FedEx, UPS and USPS. Please let us know if you prefer another shipping. ~ New York State are required to add 8.875% sales tax.
About the Seller
B & B Rare Books, Ltd., ABAA
Biblio member since 2006
New York, New York
About B & B Rare Books, Ltd., ABAA
Selling First Editions and Rare Books from all centuries. Specializing in 19th and 20th century literature, modern first editions, signed and inscribed books, early children's literature, and poetry.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Clamshell Box
- A protective box designed for storing and preserving a bound book or loose sheets. A clamshell box is hinged on one side, with...
- Reading Copy
- Indicates a book that is perfectly serviceable for reading. It may have a defect or damage. As such, reading copy is not a...
- Wrappers
- The paper covering on the outside of a paperback. Also see the entry for pictorial wraps, color illustrated coverings for...
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
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