WALLACE, David Foster (1962-2008)

Infinite Jest [First State]

New York: Little, Brown, 1996. First Edition. Hardcover. First Printing (full number line), in First State dust jacket (incorrectly spelling William Vollmann as "Vollman" on back panel) of the author's magnum opus. Thick 8vo: [4],1079,[1]. Publisher's quarter-bound French blue cloth spine over periwinkle paper-covered boards, spine stamped in silver. Superb, a virtually pristine copy, square, clean, and tight. Time 100. Fine / Fine. Item #BB1834

"The plot of Infinite Jest—which revolves around, among other things, a lost, unwatchably beautiful art film and a conspiracy among wheelchair-bound Quebecois secessionists—is decidedly secondary to the painfully funny dialogue and Wallace’s endlessly rich ruminations and speculations on addiction, entertainment, art, life and, of course, tennis." (Time 100) To help readers slice through the novel's dense thickets of prose, Wallace included 98 pages of "Notes & Errata." The title is from Hamlet, Act V, Scene 1, in which Hamlet holds the skull of the court jester, Yorick: "Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is!" N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, with dust jackets carefully preserved in archival, removable polypropylene sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed.

Price: $574.00