Krakatit

New York: The Macmillan Company, 1925. Karel Capek's most famous work, always on any "top 10" list of great novels of speculative fiction, is "War with the Newts." He and his artist brother Joseph were prominent members of the European avant-garde, Capek (1890-1938), a Czech Jew, avoided the death camps by dying from natural causes, a fate not accorded his brother. "Krakiatit" can be read as a foreshadowing of the nuclear dilemma, with the scientific Genie once again released from its bottle. This is a Near Fine copy of the First American Edition, less common than the English version, which in itself is rare. Dark green/blue cloth binding with paper labels on the front cover and spine. Clean text; 408 pages. Hardly any wear The dustjacket is only partially present: the spine and the front cover have been tipped into the front paste-down and free endpaper; the front flap (withits $2.50 price unclipped) has been tipped onto the rear free endpaper. The various pieces of the dustjacket are in Fine condition, and Quercus assumes they were removed early in the book's life to preserve them. An interesting solution, but rather difficult to adequately describe! Quercus arbitrarily classifies these "Fine" pieces as only "Good" as an incomplete jacket. In an archival plastic protector. Size: 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. First American Edition.. Hard Cover. Near Fine/Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.