Ein Landarzt.
by KAFKA, Franz
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
London, London, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
1919. Kurt Wolff Verlag, Muenchen, 1919. 8vo. Publisher's beige cloth, titled in maroon to upper cover and spine; pp. [viii], 189, [3]; a very good copy, sound, with some light uniform toning to paper stock and top edge, a little faded along the spine. First edition. Kafka's second short story collection (after Betrachtung or "Contemplation" in 1912) published in 1919 by Kurt Wolff. The collection consists of 14 short stories in the absurdist/surrealist vein for which Kafka became known — the 15th story "The Bucket Rider" was removed on Kafka's request prior to publication. Due to what can only be described as organizational difficulties within the publishing house, and the lingering effects of the war, the publication of the book stretched out over several years, to the exasperation of an increasingly irate Kafka, if rumours (and surviving correspondence) are to be believed. The dedication to his father is of particular interest, given some of the oedipal themes expressed throughout his canon works, and their notoriously difficult relationship. On a brighter note, Kafka was said to be delighted with the presentation of the book, most of all the unusually large and beautiful typeface. The first edition of this book is, unhelpfully but interestingly, known to exist in a variety of similar (but far from identical) covers. This peculiar (and bibliographically frustrating) publishing strategy may well be the result of Kafka's poor sales performance during his lifetime, leading the publisher to hold back unbound sheets and produce different versions of the book as and when needed. Other versions of this book include those in half-cloth or paper covered boards, including variations with the same or entirely different title treatments, all ostensibly containing the same printing of the book.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Henry Sotheran Ltd. (GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 2118273
- Title
- Ein Landarzt.
- Author
- KAFKA, Franz
- Book Condition
- Used
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Date Published
- 1919
Terms of Sale
Henry Sotheran Ltd.
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Henry Sotheran Ltd.
Biblio member since 2018
London, London
About Henry Sotheran Ltd.
Founded in York in 1761 and established in London on 1815, Henry Sotheran Limited has a long and distinguished history.For over 250 years we have been offering unsurpassed opportunities to collectors. Throughout our history we have prided ourselves on the quality and condition of our books and our friendly service.Our premises just off Piccadilly in the heart of London's West End are spacious and elegantly appointed and we welcome regular clients and passers-by alike to wander in and browse in a relaxing and convivial atmosphere.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
- 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....
- Poor
- A book with significant wear and faults. A poor condition book is still a reading copy with the full text still readable. Any...
- Unbound
- A book or pamphlet which does not have a covering binding, sometimes by original design, sometimes used to describe a book in...
- 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...