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Cunningham, Michael : Golden States

Crown Publishers, New York City, NY, 1984

First Edition / First Printing. Fine in No Dust Jacket, As Issued. 241 pages. The author's debut novel. One of Michael Cunningham's finest - and most underrated - achievements. Uncorrected Proof. Published in a small and limited one-time-only print run as a softcover original only for the exclusive use of the author and publisher. None of the copies was commercially sold. There is no ISBN. The Uncorrected Proof is now scarce. Presents, in its earliest publication state, Michael Cunningham's "Golden States". Ignored by critics and the public alike when it first appeared, during a very stressful and turbulent time (in 1984, at the height of the AIDS catastrophe). According to Michael Cunningham himself, the book sold 17 copies in all. The rest were remaindered (and marked as such) or pulped outright. He has refused to have it reissued in an accessible new edition (it is not even listed in the Published Works page of his subsequent books). After disappearing altogether, copies have since continually resurfaced, after Michael Cunningham won several major awards for his masterpiece-novel, "The Hours" (1998). Assuredly written, his "coming-of-age" novel is composed "with wisdom, humor, and style about a difficult part of any life" (Denis Johnson). Famously and aptly utilizes David Hockney's iconic painting, "Gregory In The Pool", for its cover. An absolute "must-have" title for Michael Cunningham collectors. This copy of the Uncorrected Proof is very prominently and beautifully signed and inscribed in black ink-pen on the title page by the author: "To Rob, a true book detective. Can't believe you tracked this down, Michael Cunningham". It is signed directly on the page itself, not on a tipped-in page. The recipient, who is named, is unmistakably known to - and admired, for his collector's determination and serendipity, by - the author. This title is now collectible. This is the only such signed and uniquely inscribed copy of the Uncorrected Proof available online and despite its imperfection (visible wear on the white softcovers) is still in near-fine condition: Every single internal page is clean, crisp, and bright. Please note: Copies available online command as much as $600. This is surely an accessible and lovely alternative. A rare signed copy thus. "A Home At The End of The World" was selected as one of "The 200 Best Novels in English Since 1950" by The Modern Library, the most prestigious list of its kind for the period 1950-1999. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Literature and The Pen/Faulkner Award in 1999 for "The Hours". One of the finest American writers of our time. A fine copy. (SEE ALSO OTHER MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM TITLES IN OUR CATALOG).

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