STORIES IN AN ALMOST CLASSICAL MODE

New York City, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 1988. First Edition. First Printing.. Hardcover. Fine/Fine Dust Jacket.. New York City, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 1988. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. First Edition/First Printing. 596 pages. The author's second collection of short stories. One of the greatest books of the 20th century. The First Hardcover Edition. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions. Published in a small and limited first print run as a hardcover original only. The First Edition is now scarce. Presents Harold Brodkey's "Stories In An Almost Classical Mode". A masterly collection. Since 1958, when he published his first book of short stories, "First Love And Other Sorrows", Harold Brodkey had become something of a mystery man, elusive and silent. The present volume collects, in chronological order, work published in various literary magazines over the past three decades. The stories are "classical" in the sense that they avoid trendy experimentation: There isn't a trace of Minimalism, Metafiction, or Magic Realism in any of them. Brodkey's subject is the "Sturm und Drang" of human relationships, especially sexual relationships. Acutely sensitive, intensely analytical, he writes with "the authority of being on one's knees in front of the event". No matter what the situation, the narrative voice is invariably eloquent and intelligent. An absolute "must-have" title for Harold Brodkey collectors. This copy is very prominently and beautifully signed, dated, and inscribed in black pen on the title page by the author: "April 9, 1989 For Lynne, On a blurry, snowy evening in Chicago, Harold Brodkey". It is signed directly on the page itself, not on a tipped-in page. The recipient, who is named, is personally known to the author. The signature is done vertically, as Brodkey often did almost as a trademark. He also underlined his signature three times and drew a wistful April Spring-time tree at the bottom of the page, as Chicago is indeed known to have snow well into late spring. This title is a great book. As far as we know, this is the only such signed, dated, and inscribed copy (with original drawing) of the First Hardcover Edition/First Printing available online and is in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright. Please note: Copies available online have serious flaws, are subsequent printings, or are remainder-marked. This is surely an accessible and lovely alternative. A rare signed copy thus. "First Love And Other Sorrows" is regarded by Harold Bloom as one of the canonical titles of the 20th century. One of the greatest writers of the 20th century. A fine copy. (SEE ALSO OTHER HAROLD BRODKEY TITLES IN OUR CATALOG). ISBN 0394506995.