The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

by McCullers, Carson

Carson McCullers’ The Heart is a Lonely Hunter is the author’s first in her string of works that lift the voices of the outsiders. The debut novel tells the story of a deaf-mute man named John Singer, who lives in an unnamed mill town in Georgia in the late 1930s. Left alone after his close friend and roommate is sent away, Singer moves into a boarding house and soon becomes the confidant of four of the town’s mistfits. His new acquaintances include Mick Kelly, a spirited young girl from a poor family; Jake Blount, an alcoholic social reformer; Dr. Benedict Mady Copeland, an idealistic black physician; and Biff Brannon, the childless owner of the local café that brought the group together. These five voices share a common cry of isolation, the novel’s principal theme. Thus, some understand the characters experiencing this shared isolation to be grotesque, a Southern Gothic literary term for elements — often exaggerated — in dissension of social and cultural formations. However, others argue that the work is far too rooted in realism to fit the aforementioned bill.

Having quickly risen to the top of the bestseller lists in 1940, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter was a literary sensation. Modern Library ranked the novel seventeenth on its list of the “100 Best” English-language novels of the 20th century. It was also included in TIME’s “100 Best Novels” (since 1923 to 2005). A film adaptation was made in 1968, starring Alan Arkin, Sondra Locke, and Cicely Tyson. In March 2005, a stage adaptation premiered at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia and began touring shortly thereafter, commissioned and produced by the Acting Company of New York City. And after being selected for Oprah’s Book Club in 2004, Houghton Mifflin, McCullers's publisher throughout her life, rushed out 700,000 copies of a new paperback edition. As a result, the 64-year-old novel was the No. 1 bestseller for a brief time in May of that year.

First Edition Identification

Houghton Mifflin Company first published Carson McCullers’ The Heart is a Lonely Hunter in 1940. Bound in cream cloth with dark red lettering, the 356-page first edition states “1940” on both the title page and the copyright page. 

Reviews

Review this book!

Available Copies

The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter.

The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter.

by McCullers, Carson. [Marlon Brando]

Condition
Used
Published
1993
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$1,101.42

Show Details

Description:
New York: The Modern Library, 1993. With the publication of her first novel, The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter, Carson McCullers, became a literary sensation. With its profound sense of moral isolation and its compassionate glimpses into its characters' inner lives, the novel is considered McCullers' finest work, an enduring masterpiece. "To me the most impressive aspect of The… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$1,101.42
THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER

THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER

by MCCULLERS, CARSON

Condition
Used - FINE IN A VERY GOOD+ D.J.
Edition
FIRST EDITION
Published
PUB 1940
Quantity Available
1
Seller
BURLINGTON, Wisconsin, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$4,998.78

Show Details

Description:
BOSTON: HOUGHTON MIFFLIN CO. FINE IN A VERY GOOD+ D.J.. PUB 1940. FIRST EDITION. AUTHOR'S FIRST BOOK . BOOK IS FINE WITHOUT ANY MARKS TO THE BINDING OR THE TEXT. D.J. HAS A SMALL BIT OF WEAR AT THE CORNERS AND SPINE EDGES WITH A FEW SHORT TEARS MOSTLY ALONG THE TOP EDGE, UNFADED, AND NOT PRICE-CLIPPED. AN… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$4,998.78
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter
More Photos

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

by Carson McCullers

Condition
Used - Fine
Jacket Condition
Fine
Edition
First Edition facsimile
Published
nd / 1940
Binding
First edition facsimile in illustrated slipcase
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Lake Huntington, New York, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$135.56

Show Details

Description:
356 pp. Octavo, 6 x 8.5 in. This is an near perfect facsimile of the original June 4, 1940, publication of which, it is estimated, only 3000 were printed. The book, dust jacket, and slip case are in fine condition. The F.E.L. 3.5 x 7.5 in. info card is laid in. An archival cover has been added to the… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$135.56
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

by Carson McCullers

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Published
1940
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$1,694.50

Show Details

Description:
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1940. Very Good/Very Good. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1940. First Edition, First Printing, with 1940 to title and copyright pages. Octavo. 356 pp. First-issue dust jacket with original $2.50 price present and "Summer's Lease" blurb to rear flap. Tan buckram with dark red lettering. Large triangular chip along inner edge of front… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$1,694.50
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

by Mccullers, Carson

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Edition
First edition
Published
1946, May
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
014008360X
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Thessaloniki, GRC
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$128.24

Show Details

Description:
Penguin, 1946, May. First edition. Paperback. Near Fine. A near fine paperback copy with some loss of cellophane covering. 1st edition. 304pages 18,5X10,7cm.Author's first book, originally published in 1940. This is the first Penguin Books edition from 1946.About the book.Carson McCullers The Heart is a Lonely Hunter is the authors first in her string of works that lift… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$128.24
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
More Photos

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

by McCullers, Carson

Condition
Used
Edition
First Edition
Published
1940
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Portland, Oregon, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$2,541.75

Show Details

Description:
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1940. First Edition. First edition. (First printing with dated title page.) [iv], 356 pp. Bound in publisher's buff buckram cloth, with titles stamped in brown. Near Fine with slight lean to spine, edges a little scuffed, in an About Very Good dust jacket with sunned spine panel, wear at head, small wear spot and a… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$2,541.75
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
More Photos

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

by McCullers, Carson

Condition
Used
Edition
First Edition
Published
1940
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Portland, Oregon, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$3,389.00

Show Details

Description:
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1940. First Edition. First edition. (First printing with dated title page.) [iv], 356 pp. Bound in publisher's buff buckram cloth, with titles stamped in brown. Strips of offsetting to endpapers, else Fine, in an unfaded dust jacket, two small stains to back panel, worn along edges, a tape mends to verso, price-clipped, easily Very Good.… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$3,389.00
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.
More Photos

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.

by McCullers, Carson

Condition
Used
Published
1967
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Skibbereen, IRL
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$403.04

Show Details

Description:
1967. Facsimile of the First Edition. Shelton, The First Edition Library, 1967. Octavo. 356 pages. Original Hardcover with illustrated dustjacket in protective Mylar. The book is housed in its original slipcase. Close to new ! Absolutely Fine condition with an only mildly sunned dustjacket-spine. Includes even the publisher's advertising slip. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1940)… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$403.04
THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER

THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER

by McCullers, Carson

Condition
Used - Very Good+ in Very Good+ dust jacket
Edition
First Edition Thus
Published
1940
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Overland Park, Kansas, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$58.63

Show Details

Description:
Houghton and Mifflin Boston. Very Good+ in Very Good+ dust jacket. 1940. First Edition Thus. Hardcover. 0965017778 . VG+ replica book club edition of the 1940 first edition with 1940 on both title and cp. Small former owner address label on front pastedown and light surface soil to edges. Binding is tight and straight. Jacket is vg+ … Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$58.63
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
More Photos

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

by McCullers, Carson

Condition
Used - Very Good +
Jacket Condition
fine
Edition
First printing
Published
1940
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Monroe, Georgia, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$821.83

Show Details

Description:
Houghton Mifflin, 1940. First printing. Hardcover. Very Good +/fine. A true first printing copy with 1940 on both the Title and Copyright pages and no tint to the top edge. The interior of the book is clean and unmarked. The oatmeal boards with maroon letters are lightly worn on the bottpm edges and are clean and have square… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$821.83
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter: Carson McCullers (Penguin Modern Classics)

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter: Carson McCullers (Penguin Modern Classics)

by McCullers, Carson

Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0141185228
Quantity Available
1
Seller
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$5.72

Show Details

Description:
Paperback. Very Good.
Item Price
NZ$5.72
The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter.

The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter.

by McCullers, Carson

Condition
Used
Published
1940
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$20,334.00

Show Details

Description:
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1940. First edition, first printing with the date of 1940 on the title page of the author's first novel and masterpiece. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Carson McCullers on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. A very sharp example, rare and… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$20,334.00
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

by McCullers, Carson

Condition
Used - Near Fine in Near Fine Dust Jacket
Published
1940
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Helena, Montana, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$40.67

Show Details

Description:
Houghton Mifflin Co., 1940. Hardcover. Near Fine in Near Fine Dust Jacket. 1940 copyright published later, book club facsimile reprint, near fine hardcover in near fine dust jacket with both just the lightest bit of trace wear. 356 pages. Very nice copy of this reprinting of the literary classic.
Item Price
NZ$40.67
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
More Photos

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

by McCullers, Carson

Condition
Used - Very Good+ in Good dust jacket
Edition
First Edition
Published
1940
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Northridge, California, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$1,186.13

Show Details

Description:
Boston: Houghton and Mifflin. Very Good+ in Good dust jacket. 1940. First Edition. Hardcover. Original beige cloth titled in red. First edition; same date to title page/cp. Cloth lightly stained, endpages/edges foxed; offset browning to rear endpage due to laid-in sales receipt of the purchase of this title by noted screenwriter/director Delmer Daves; small crease to spine… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$1,186.13
The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter
More Photos

The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter

by Carson McCullers

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Edition
the facsimile of the first edition
Published
1967
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Suwanee, Georgia, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$76.24

Show Details

Description:
The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers the facsimile of the first edition hardcover Publisher: First Edition Library, 1967 book - Near Fine slipcase - Near Fine
Item Price
NZ$76.24
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

by Carson McCullers

Condition
Used - Fine
Published
1993-05-18
Binding
Gray cloth with gilt lettering on the spine.
ISBN 10
0679424741
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Ridgeley, West Virginia, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$18.64

Show Details

Description:
In "As New Condition". From the front DJ flap, " 'The Heart is a Lonely Hunter' was published in the spring of 1940 and was immediately a literary sensation. Carson McCullers was only twenty-three years old, had lived in a small southern town for most of her life, and this was her first novel...her knowledge and insight into her characters… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$18.64
The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter.

The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter.

by McCullers, Carson

Condition
Used
Published
1940
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$13,217.10

Show Details

Description:
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1940. First edition, first printing with the date of 1940 on the title page of the author's first novel and masterpiece. Octavo, original cloth. With a note laid in from the author which reads, "With all good wishes from Carson McCullers Thanks for the good time at the Inn." Fine in a near fine dust… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$13,217.10
No image available

The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter

by McCULLERS, Carson

Condition
Used
Edition
First Edition
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Toronto, Ontario, CAN
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 3 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$423.20

Show Details

Description:
[Cambridge]: The Riverside Press, [1940]. First Edition. 8vo. [pp. 4], 356. cloth (shaken with 2 small stains on verso end paper and past down)
Item Price
NZ$423.20
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (A Bantam Giant; A1091) (1st)
More Photos

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (A Bantam Giant; A1091) (1st)

by Carson McCullers

Condition
Used - Good
Edition
First Edition Thus
Published
1953
Binding
Mass Market Paperback
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Long Beach, California, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$167.92

Show Details

Description:
Bantam Books, 1953. First Edition Thus. Mass Market Paperback. Good. First Bantam edition, first printing, February, 1953. A Bantam Giant; A1091. Good (4 of 10). Shelf wear and rubbing to the cover and edges. Creases to the spine. The spine has a roll/lean/twist to it. Browning to the edges of the pages. Bagged for protection.. * * *… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$167.92
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter: Carson McCullers (Penguin Modern Classics)

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter: Carson McCullers (Penguin Modern Classics)

by McCullers, Carson

Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0141185228
Quantity Available
1
Seller
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$5.72

Show Details

Description:
Paperback. Acceptable.
Item Price
NZ$5.72