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Doctorow, E. L. (Author) & McMullan, James (Artist/Contributor) : Loon Lake: The First Edition Society Limited Edition

Franklin Library, Franklin Center, PA, 1980

First Edition / First Printing. As New in No Dust Jacket, As Issued. 273 pages. The author's fifth novel. One of the greatest American novels of the 20th century. The First Edition Society. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions, particularly the regular trade edition. Published in a small and limited print run as a hardcover original only. As issued, Doctorow did NOT sign the copies because Random House published its own Signed Limited Edition. There is no ISBN. The First Edition Society is now rare. An elegant production by Franklin Library: Regular-sized volume format. Leather boards with gilt titles and design on the cover and spine, as issued. Text by E. L. Doctorow. Art by James McMullan. Printed on thick, uncoated stock paper in the United States to the highest standards. Without DJ, as issued. Presents, in a Limited Edition collectible format, E. L. Doctorow's "Loon Lake". His most innovative and formalistic work. The novel has puzzled and delighted readers in equal measure. And yet, the story is as American (and as characteristically Doctorow) as it gets: "During the Great Depression of the 1930's, a passionate, young New Jersey man leaves home to find his fortune. What he finds is a life so different from his own that it changes his destiny. A haunting story of dreams and desires" (Publisher's blurb). Doctorow will be remembered for the way he has used the so-called historical novel to serve his own very personal vision of a society in transition, fluid, imperfect, fascinating, and oddly memorable. "History is the present. That's why every generation writes it anew. But what most people think of as history is its end product, myth. So to be irreverent to myth, to play with it, let in some light and air, to try to combust it back into history, is to risk being seen as someone who distorts truth" (E. L. Doctorow). E. L. Doctorow died on July 21, 2015 at the age of 84, an irreplaceable loss. An absolute "must-have" title for E. L. Doctorow collectors. This is a copy of the First Edition Society, and it is very prominently and beautifully signed in black pen on the title page by E. L. Doctorow. It is signed directly on the page itself, not on a tipped-in page. As issued, Doctorow did NOT sign copies of this First Edition Society title. His signature on this copy was obtained in person. Laid-in is a pristine copy of the Souvenir Announcement of the event during which his signature was obtained. This title is a great book. This is one of few such signed copies of the First Edition Society still available online and is in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright, a pristine beauty. A rare signed copy thus. Winner of the very first National Book Critics Circle Award in 1976 for "Ragtime". Winner of the National Book Award in 1986 for "World's Fair". Winner of the PEN/Faulkner and a second National Book Critics Circle Award in 2006 for "The March". One of the greatest American writers of our time. A fine copy. (SEE ALSO OTHER E. L. DOCTOROW TITLES IN OUR CATALOG).

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