CALIFORNIA LA BELLA

Madrid: Renacimiento, 1926. First edition. Very good.. Rare signed true first edition of this novel of Mexican immigration to the United States from one of Bolivia's most celebrated writers. A social novel with romance overtones set in the Santa Clara Valley during the mission period of California's early statehood, the story of CALIFORNIA LA BELLA revolves around a love triangle between Resurrección, the beautiful daughter of an Italian immigrant of questionable background, and her two suitors: the kind but naive Pablo Guilarte, recently arrived from Mexico, and the more sinister Ralph Quinones, whose plans to kidnap Resurrección are foiled only when he is arrested for running an illegal business. Alarcón, who was teaching and living in California when he began the novel (but finished and sold it during a trip to Spain, hence the imprint), weaves alternating plot lines with commentary on the dangers of opium, sympathetic accounts of Ralph's difficult life, and descriptions of California's history and landscape.

Almost certainly a presentation binding from the author's own copies, it is inscribed to the college where the author was teaching at the time. Alarcón was forced from his native Bolivia in 1920 due to the political situation there. He settled in California and stayed for more than a decade until his eventual and celebrated return.

A later edition (though possibly issue) with a different cover (dated 1928 and featuring a gaucho) is often mistaken for this, the true first (with the American flag motif cover). OCLC notes 18 scattered holdings, with half in California. Decidedly scarce in the marketplace, especially so signed, and rare with such a strong provenance from the author. 7.25'' x 5''. Full Spanish style leather with original color pictorial wrappers bound in. All edges marbled. Text in Spanish. With a prologue by Ricardo León. 234, [6] pages. Inscribed by Alarcón on the half title page: "To the Library of the Co- / llege of the Pacific. / Affectionately / Abel Alarcón." Bookplate of the College of the Pacific ("Gift of the author"). Lightly ex-library with neat card pocket (checked out only once) and tipped in date due sheet. Library blindstamp to title page. Occasional penciled marginalia. Else clean and sound overall.