THE PROFESSOR OF DESIRE - INSCRIBED TO ALISON LURIE

London: Jonathan Cape Ltd, 1978. First U.K. Edition. Roth's ninth novel, centered around the life of emotionally insecure and sexually promiscuous literature professor David Kepesh. It was nominated for the National Book Critics Circle Award in 1978. A significant association copy inscribed to Alison Lurie (1926-2020), winner of the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and one of the dedicatees of Roth's third novel, When She Was Good. When Lurie was interviewed by Liz Lear in 1988 and asked if any other writers had been supportive of her work, or if there was one in particular to whom she owed a debt of gratitude, she mentioned Edward Hower, Diane Johnson, and Roth. "Philip Roth has also been most helpful. He read a number of my earlier books and his constructive criticism was invaluable" (Key West Review, Vol.1, No.1, Spring 1988). Roth was known for not inscribing books casually, and those with inscriptions of a close, meaningful nature, have never been plentiful. First Impression. Octavo (22.25cm); black paper-covered boards, with titles stamped in gilt on spine; pale blue topstain; dustjacket; [vi],263,[3]pp. Inscribed by the author on the front endpaper to Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Alison Lurie: "April 1978 / London / To my dear Alison / With love - Philip." Spine ends gently nudged, slight forward lean; Near Fine. Dustjacket is unclipped (priced £4.50 net), with light wear to extremities and some trivial dustiness; Near Fine.