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McCourt, James : Mawrdew Czgowchwz

Farrar Straus & Giroux, New York City, NY, 1975

First Edition / First Printing. Fine in Fine Dust Jacket. 230 pages. The author's breakthrough debut novel. One of the finest novels of the 20th century. The First Hardcover Edition. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions, particularly the 2002 NYR Reissued Edition. Published in a small and limited first print run as a hardcover original only. There is no ISBN. The First Edition is now scarce. Presents James McCourt's "Mawrdew Czgowchwz". A perfect first novel. Pronounced "Mardu Gorgeous", as helpfully revealed by the publisher about the one American novel that will be a spell test to compete with those unpronounceable Polish names. The eponymous diva "bursts like the most brilliant of comets onto the international opera scene, only to confront the deadly malice and black magic of her rivals. Outrageous and uproarious, flamboyant and serious as only the most perfect frivolity can be, James McCourt's entrancing send-up of the world of opera has been a cult classic for more than a quarter-century. This comic tribute to the love of art is a triumph of art and love by a contemporary American Master" (New York Review). "Bravo, James McCourt, a literary countertenor in the literary tradition of Firbank and Nabokov" (Susan Sontag). An absolute "must-have" title for James McCourt collectors. This copy is very boldly and beautifully signed, dated, and inscribed in black ink-pen on the title page by the author: "December 1, 1981 For Maggie Lewis, in friendship, in fellowship, James McCourt". It is signed directly on the page itself, not on a tipped-in page. The recipient, who is named, is a close friend of the author. McCourt's signature fills up the page, and is as flamboyant, impressive, and artful as his art. It is very boldly and beautifully signed, dated, and inscribed again in orange pen-marker on the back page by the author. This title is a great book. As far as we know, this is the only such double-signed, dated, and inscribed copy of the First Hardcover Edition/First Printing available online and despite its imperfection (slight browning on the white DJ top edge) is still in fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright. Please note: James McCourt is a cult writer (with a uniquely brilliant body of work) who is also a writer's writer. It is a crying shame that mainstream recognition has eluded him because his work represents writing - and reading - as pure pleasure. A rare signed copy thus. James McCourt's "Time Remaining: Stories" is regarded by Harold Bloom as one of the greatest books of the 20th century. One of the finest writers of our time. A fine collectible copy. (SEE ALSO OTHER JAMES MCCOURT TITLES IN OUR CATALOG).

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