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Lot 185: FAULKNER, William (1897-1962). A Fable. New York: Random House, 1954. “The

Est: $15,000 USD - $25,000 USDSold:
Christie'sNew York, NY, USDecember 04, 2018

Item Overview

Description

FAULKNER, William (1897-1962). A Fable. New York: Random House, 1954. “The best work of my life”: a presentation copy of the frst edition, inscribed, “To Mother with love / Billy.” Additionally signed on the title page and dated about two months prior to publication: “William Faulkner Oxford Miss 10 June 1954.” While the previous decade had found Faulkner mostly out-of-print, the 1946 publication of Malcolm Cowley’s The Portable Faulkner introduced his work to a whole new readership and brought the critical and popular acclaim that had eluded him. Although A Fable was received with mixed reviews, Faulkner considered it his masterpiece, and it won him his frst Pulitzer Prize (he would win a second for The Reivers in 1963). He wrote in 1953, “Am just fnishing what I think is the best work of my life and maybe of my time, a book, novel, fable” (Blotner 576). Here, he presents his great accomplishment to his mother, underscoring the depth of their relationship. Maud Butler Faulkner (1871-1960) by all accounts favored William, the eldest of her four sons, fostering his love of literature when he was young and nurturing his talent throughout his life. She was intensely devoted to him, and provided emotionally while he attempted to provide fnancially – though in most cases she declined his help. Massey 38. Octavo (201 x 103mm). Original maroon cloth, dust jacket (short closed tear at heel of spine panel, minor wear); in a custom quarter-morocco slipcase. Provenance: Maud Faulkner (1871-1960; inscription).

Artist or Maker

Auction Details

Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts Including Americana

by
Christie's
December 04, 2018, 02:00 PM EST

20 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY, NY 10020, US