A Gathering of Flowers: Stories About Being Young in America

Harper and Row, 1990. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. Inscribed to "Cris" by editor and contributor Joyce Carol Thomas, as well as inscribed (each time "to Cris") by five of the contributors--Al Young, Gary Soto, Gerald Haslam, Maxine Hong Kingston, and Rick Wernli--at the head of their stories, all on the same occasion in the year of publication. It represents a surprisingly great gathering of twentieth-century California writers (only Wernli faded to obscurity, and apparently his contribution here, "Colony," was his first published story). A non-authorial (it would seem) gift inscription to Cris from "Ellen" is found on the upper right of the FFEP. Other contributors to this anthology include Gerald Vizenor, Lois Lowry, Ana Castillo, and Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston. A very near fine book, with just one bump to lower edge of front board, otherwise crisp and clean; in a near fine jacket with a streak of rubbing on the rear panel where cloth to turns to paper underneath. Note that the stock image here is not of the hardback cover, which actually sports a purple floral patten with yellow lettering. A unique item. // Wood River Books specializes in place-based and environmental literature, with a special passion for association copies and notable inscriptions.