The Gold Bug Variations
New York: Morrow, 1991. First Edition. Wrappers. Uncorrected Bound Galleys of the author's "most ambitious and successful novel." (Literary Encyclopedia) Crown 8vo (202 x 129mm): 639,[1]pp. Saffron paper wrappers lettered in black. Presumably an early (or first) issue, without publication date in manuscript to front cover and printing error resulting in strings of letters and numbers at bottom of more than 100 pages. An exceptional example of this scarce format, tightly bound and clean throughout. Fine. Item #BB1806
Powers's third novel, intertwining discovery of the chemical structure of DNA with the musicality of Johann Sebastian Bach's harpsichord composition the Goldberg Variations. (Douglas Hofstadter explored a similar theme in his 1979 book, Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid.) Powers's title also alludes to Edgar Allan Poe's 1843 short story "The Gold-Bug," which plays a part in the plot. "Detailed descriptions of Mendel and his Law of Segregation, homozygous and heterozygous plants, Watson and Crick's discovery of the double helix structure of DNA, mutation at the molecular level, the evolutionary process, triple codons, amino acids, proteins and enzymes, and the structure of the brain are interwoven with fugue theory and the history of Bach's Goldberg Variations to form a fourth “narrative” strand for the hard-working reader to assimilate. Despite its length and difficulty, The Gold Bug Variations was greeted enthusiastically when published in 1991. It was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, was named by Time as the best novel of the year, was a New York Times Notable Book, and was one of Publisher's Weekly's Best Books." (Literary Encyclopedia) N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, carefully preserved in archival, removable polypropylene sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).
Price: $199.00