Lot 184: FAULKNER, William (1897-1962). Light in August. New York: Harrison Smith

FAULKNER, William (1897-1962). Light in August. New York: Harrison Smith & Robert Haas, 1932. The frst edition of one of Faulkner’s greatest novels, meaningfully inscribed to a close childhood friend: “For Myrtle Ramey / Oxford Miss 30 May 1934 / William Faulkner.” Faulkner had few grade school friends, but Myrtle Ramey was certainly one of them. They met in third grade, and though she was a fragile girl who was only permitted to attend school part-time, Faulkner met her delicate nature with kindness and compassion. They shared a love of literature, and beginning with The Marble Faun in 1924, she was one of a very select few to whom he sent copies of his books. Perhaps tellingly, despite Ramey’s marriage in 1926, the majority of his inscriptions persisted in using her maiden name. Light in August has taken its place as not only one of Faulkner’s masterpieces but one of the great novels of the 20th century. Indeed, the “fne galloping language” that “begins to swim smooth and swift and peaceful” that he ascribes to a main character’s beloved volume of Tennyson’s poetry also describes his own writing. Massey 103. Octavo (202 x 135mm). Original cloth stamped in orange and blue, top edge orange (light ofsetting from jacket fap to front endpaper); orange and blue printed dust-jacket (very light wear along top edge); remnants of glassine; in a custom quarter morocco slipcase. Provenance: Myrtle Ramey (inscription) – Louis Daniel Brodsky – Christie’s New York, 2 December 2005, lot 69, $31,200).