Two Serious Ladies
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1943. First Edition. Hardcover. First Printing of Bowles's only novel, a modernist cult classic (Tennessee Williams named it his favorite book), written in singular, spare, elliptical prose. 8vo (197 x 135mm): [6],271,[1]pp. Publisher's tan cloth lettered and decorated in red, top edge stained red, fore- and bottom edges untrimmed, illustrated dust jacket priced 2.50. About Fine (spine ends bumped, usual darkening to end sheets, bit of shelf wear to bottom edge, brief professional restoration to head of jacket's spine, but an exemplary example), tight, fresh and bright. Fine- / Fine-. Item #BB2109
Jane Sidney Auer married composer and writer Paul Bowles in 1938, and for a time they lived in a boardinghouse with, among others, Richard Wright, Carson McCullers, Benjamin Britten, and Gypsy Rose Lee. "Bowles deliberately constructed Two Serious Ladies without a plot. Its title characters, one sinful and victimized, the other virtuous and domineering, meet only twice; their lives are presented alternately, in a style praised for its wit." (Encyclopedia Britannica) N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, with dust jackets carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar 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: $1,774.00