EARWITNESS: FIFTY CHARACTERS

London, England: Andre Deutsch, 1979. First Edition. First Printing.. Hardcover. Fine/Fine Dust Jacket.. London, England: Andre Deutsch, 1979. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. First Edition/First Printing. 101 pages. Collection of character sketches. One of Elias Canetti's finest achievements. The first appearance of the title in English and in the United Kingdom. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions, particularly the 1986 Reissued Edition. Published in a small and limited first print run as a hardcover original only. The First Edition is now scarce. Presents Elias Canetti's "Der Ohrenzeuge: Funfzig Charaktere" in the definitive English translation by Joachim Neugroschel. Character sketches, the narrative equivalent of the author's legendary aphorisms. "Combines criticism, literary invention, and social psychology. It is in a tradition created by the Greek philosopher Theophrastus and practiced by the English character writers of the 17th century: A collection of brief portraits of types. Relying on poetic imagery, acute insight, and unabashed word play, Canetti displays fifty paradigms of human behaviour to demonstrate how Man's individual and social being frustrates psychological and sociological categories. Their names alone are enough to indicate the extraordinary originality of Canetti's perceptions: The Tear-Warmer, The Narrow-Smeller, The Corpse-Skulker, The Moon Cousin, The Paper Drunkard, The Never-Must" (Publisher's blurb). But in Canetti's hands, they become genuine archetypes, and the eponymous Earwitness is Canetti himself, sketched here, full-blown in his memoirs, where his ears can see and his eyes can hear. An absolute "must-have" title for Elias Canetti collectors. This title is a great collection. This is one of few copies of the 1979 First Hardcover Edition/First Printing (British) still available online and is in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright. Please note: Copies available online have serious flaws, are subsequent printings, or are remainder-marked. This is surely an accessible and lovely alternative. A scarce copy thus. Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1981. One of the greatest writers of the 20th century. A fine copy. (SEE ALSO OTHER ELIAS CANETTI TITLES IN OUR CATALOG). ISBN 0233978615.